5 Ways Education Can Overcome AI Resistance: Insights from Daniel Larsson, Senior Architect at Cristie Nordic

AI adoption isn’t just a technical challenge. It’s a human one. Misconceptions, fear, and lack of awareness often create more resistance than the technology itself.

In Episode 91 of the #shifthappens podcast, we sat down with Daniel Larsson, Senior Architect at Cristie Nordic, about why education is the key to breaking down barriers, and how leaders can make AI approachable inside their organizations.

Here are five takeaways from our conversation:

1. Demystify AI by connecting it to history.

Many employees see AI as a brand-new, mysterious force. But when you show how it’s built on decades of machine learning and programming, it becomes less intimidating. Daniel emphasizes that placing today’s tools in historical context helps employees recognize AI as an evolution, not a sudden disruption.

Action for leaders: Explain AI in context. Show how it builds on decades of innovation employees already use daily.

2. Highlight that “everyone" is already using AI.

Resistance often comes from the belief that AI is foreign or risky. Yet most people already use it daily without realizing it: from automatic meeting transcripts to suggested descriptions in Teams. When leaders highlight these examples, employees see AI as familiar and practical, not distant or dangerous.

Action for leaders: Normalize AI use by pointing out existing examples inside the workplace. Familiarity builds trust.

3. Start with specialized solutions.

General-purpose AI tools can feel abstract or overwhelming. Daniel shared how Cristie Nordic developed CAISA, a locally trained AI assistant designed to be accountable and transparent, even listing the sources it relies on. Specialized tools like this meet specific business needs and are easier for hesitant organizations to accept.

Action for leaders: Begin with AI tailored to your business challenges. Concrete value builds adoption faster than abstract promise.

4. Make AI adoption practical and incremental.

Trying to roll out AI everywhere at once creates fear and confusion. The more effective approach is starting small, piloting projects with engaged teams, focusing on real use cases, and scaling gradually. Daniel stresses that success comes when AI is introduced step by step, with space to learn along the way.

Action for leaders: Start with narrow projects, identify “AI champions” inside the business, and separate knowledge creation from execution. Build adoption on proof, not pressure.

5. Reframe AI as assistance, not replacement.

One of the biggest misconceptions is that AI is here to replace jobs. Daniel notes that employees are far more comfortable when AI works for them -taking away pain points or handling repetitive tasks - than when it’s framed as a replacement. Education helps reframe AI as a copilot that supports their goals rather than a threat to their roles.

Action for leaders: Communicate clearly that AI is designed to enhance, not replace. Celebrate examples where AI saves time, reduces errors, and frees people to focus on higher-value work.

The Bottom Line

Overcoming AI resistance starts with education. When people understand what AI is (and isn’t), when they see value in specialized tools, and when leaders start small and scale responsibly, adoption becomes a source of confidence instead of concern.

🔗 Check out the full conversation with Daniel Larsson on Episode 91 of the #shifthappens podcast, and learn more about how Cristie Nordic is helping organizations in the Nordic region embrace AI with education at the center.