Maria Benedikte Skjærven

I’ve worked with IT my whole life.

As a child, I learned to code early — and built my first chatbot when I was 12.
I hold a Master’s degree in Computer Science and Economics from Copenhagen Business School.

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I founded Futurescouts in March 2023 because I wanted to teach people how to use the new AI tools — and to spark an important conversation about how we can shape a better future through technology.

Today, Futurescouts has nearly 400 members.

Futurescouts is more than a community; it’s also a consultancy that helps organisations streamline their work using modern generative AI tools, with a strong focus on ChatGPT.

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I’m an active member of UniversalFuturist, led by Anne Skare and Henrik Hougaard — and I’m proud to now add “futurist” to my professional profile.

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I’m passionate about creating balance in how we use technology.
Innovation is exciting, but we must not let it blind us to the real sources of our creativity — or to our connection with nature, ourselves, and each other.

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I’ve developed a concept I call “The 10th Intelligence”, which highlights the essential capabilities we need in an AI-driven era.

While many focus narrowly on learning to “prompt” — asking AI the right questions — the 10th Intelligence goes further. It includes ethical and legal dimensions, and the full spectrum of critical thinking required to engage with AI responsibly.