In this episode of Innovation Storytellers, part of our Nordic Visionaries Pocket Podcast series, we explore that connection with Ari Jónsson, COO of Identifier Technologies and Director at the NATO Innovation Fund. Ari’s journey began with a PhD in AI at Stanford in the early 90s, when artificial intelligence was far from mainstream. What started as a passion for robotics evolved into software agents that supported decision-making in complex environments, including spacecraft operations at NASA.

After a decade at NASA, Ari returned to Iceland just as the 2008 financial crash devastated the country’s economy. While many saw a crisis, Ari saw an opportunity. Iceland’s talent, previously locked into banking, was suddenly available, and a new wave of innovation began. 

As President of Reykjavik University, Ari helped build a tech-focused academic culture that partnered closely with government and industry. His leadership on Iceland’s national policy council for science and technology led to significant reforms and a two-year collaboration with MIT to build a stronger entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Today, Ari is working on some of the toughest challenges in tech. Identifier Technologies uses AI to track and manage visual content, from stopping the spread of child abuse material to identifying deepfakes and helping brands and newsrooms manage their content more securely. At NATO, he is part of a bold effort to support deep tech with dual-use potential, investing in companies working on everything from space launches to quantum computing and advanced materials.

This is a wide-ranging conversation about resilience, collaboration, and how Iceland has consistently punched above its weight in innovation. Ari also reflects on what Americans can learn from Nordic trust-based systems, why we should stop waiting for silver-bullet climate solutions, and how AI and infrastructure can combine to support a sustainable future.