​Build vs Buy in AI-enabled Manufacturing

​About

​AI assisted development is rapidly changing what manufacturers can realistically build in house. As the technology matures, the traditional “build vs. buy” decision is becoming more nuanced: which capabilities should be developed internally, which are better sourced from established vendors, and where does a hybrid approach make the most sense?

​Join us for an evening exploring a practical, layered framework for making these decisions across productivity tools, enterprise applications, and industrial foundations and orchestration.

​We’ll look at where ownership can create a meaningful competitive advantage, where vendor expertise remains difficult to replicate, and how manufacturers can balance speed, reliability, risk, differentiation, and long-term flexibility.

​What to Expect

• ​A practical framework for evaluating build, buy, and hybrid decisions in AI-enabled manufacturing

• ​Real-world examples from manufacturing organizations navigating these choices today

• ​Perspectives on how AI is changing the economics and feasibility of building in-house

• ​A discussion on where vendor expertise and industrial domain knowledge remain critical

• ​Panel Q&A with experienced practitioners

• ​Strategic and hands-on perspectives relevant to both business and technology leaders

• ​Food, drinks, and informal networking with peers from the Swedish manufacturing ecosystem

• ​Actionable takeaways you can bring back to your team and leadership the next day

​Programme

​17:00–17:30 — Doors Open, Food & Mingle
Arrive, grab some food and drinks, and connect with fellow attendees.

​17:30–17:40 — Welcome
Welcome from The AI Collective and Netlight.

​17:40–18:20 — Talk: Build vs Buy in AI-enabled Manufacturing
Introducing a Layered Decision Framework

​18:20–18:30 — Break

​18:30–19:00 — Panel Discussion
Build, Buy or Hybrid? Where Should Manufacturers Place Their Bets?

​19:00–20:00 — Food, Drinks & Networking
Continue the conversation and connect with peers across the manufacturing and technology ecosystem.

​Who Should Attend

​This event is for business leaders, product managers, technology professionals, architects, and procurement specialists working in manufacturing and industrial sectors who are rethinking how they source and build technology in an era where AI makes in-house development increasingly viable.

​Key Takeaways

• ​A clear framework for breaking build-vs-buy decisions into manageable layers rather than treating them as one large strategic bet

• ​An understanding of what AI has changed about the feasibility and economics of building in-house

• ​Practical criteria for deciding when vendor expertise and domain knowledge outweigh the benefits of building yourself

• ​Strategies for maintaining flexibility and future optionality regardless of today’s sourcing decision

• ​New connections with peers facing similar technology and sourcing decisions across Swedish manufacturing

​Community

​The AI Collective is a global non-profit building the human layer for the AI era. We unite 200,000+ leaders, builders, and stakeholders across 100+ forums worldwide to democratize the frontier, build trust, and coordinate how society navigates the rapid acceleration of technological progress.

​All attendees and organizers at events affiliated with The AI Collective agree to our privacy policy and are subject to our code of conduct.