1. To generate a snapshot of the current status and prospects for AI and robotics around the world and in Finland.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. To draw up a model for the implementation of the plan that will ensure the efficient realisation of the operational programme.
5. 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.

How can we ensure that Finland becomes one of the frontrunners among countries that apply artificial intelligence?

At the end of May 2017, Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä tasked a working group, which he had appointed, with answering this question. The special nature of the task is that it requires consideration of measures reaching far into the future and at the same time measures that are relevant today. The scope of the report is also exceptionally broad: the conclusions will have an impact on the whole of society.

The working group summed up its assignment into four questions:

1. How can the public and private sectors best work to ensure that companies receive adequate support for the production of AI-based innovations?
2. How can data-driven businesses benefit from the secondary use of the public sector’s information resources?
3. How will AI affect us as individuals and what will be its impact on the future of work? What will be its wider impact on society? What types of measures are required from the public sector as we move towards the age of AI?
4. The working group has published its first interim report containing eight key actions which will take Finland towards the age of AI. This is the first stage in ongoing work that will hopefully extend over several years.

We are only now beginning to understand the importance AI will have in regard to wellbeing for Finland. We are also just beginning to determine what actions we will need to implement in order to reach our objectives.

Participate in the discussion on this website, social media (#aiera) and get involved in identifying more measures. Together, we are Taking Finland into the age of AI.