Just like electricity, artificial intelligence is becoming a part of everyone’s daily life. Finland wants to be one the frontrunners in this development. Therefore an operational programme is under preparation, with the aim of turning Finland into a leading country in the application of artificial intelligence.
The work was launched on 18 May 2017, commissioned by Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä. In connection with this, five tasks were specified for the Artificial Intelligence Programme:
- To generate a snapshot of the current status and prospects for AI and robotics around the world and in Finland.
- To propose a goal state, which Finland should strive to achieve in the application of AI in collaboration with companies, research institutes, educational institutions and public organizations.
- To enter a proposal on measures the implementation of which is necessary in order to achieve the stated objectives. Special attention must be given to the field’s innovation activities, preparedness for changes to working life, increasing education and upgrading the qualifications of those in the labour market.
- To draw up a model for the implementation of the plan that will ensure the efficient realisation of the operational programme.
- To prepare a proposal for the expansion of the working group’s task description and composition, so as to allow it to develop the measures necessary for the promotion of AI in the long-term and analyse the more broad-scoped societal change related to digitalisation and provide proposals for solutions to the Government.
A steering group was set up to implement the work and Pekka Ala-Pietilä was invited to chair the group. The group’s first interim report was published in October 2017.
The Artificial Intelligence Programme is anticipated to be completed in April 2019.