A Collaboration for Nordic AI Policy
How can we facilitate the research and industry to help the field of artificial intelligence flourish in the Nordics?
Is there an advantage to thinking regional when it comes to artificial intelligence? After all, there are several companies and research environments that already collaborate. Yet I would ask: where is constant collaboration in the Nordics on artificial intelligence policy? Does it exist?
There is the Nordic council of ministers.
Within this there is collaboration that goes over time, albeit perhaps a more general approach.
This has an even broader focus regionally as well, on the Nordic and Baltic countries.
The Nordics or Nordic countries are a geographical and cultural region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic, where they are most commonly known as Norden (literally “the North”).
This term includes:
- Denmark.
- Finland.
- Iceland.
- Norway.
- Sweden.
- Greenland.
- Faroe Islands (part of the Kingdom of Denmark).
- Åland Islands (Finland).
- Jan Mayen and the archipelago of Svalbard that belong to Norway.
If we extend to Nordic-Baltic then the group of countries presently referred to by the shorthand Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
Will this be cohesive?
I mean: in practice could one conceive that these could work together.
Where do you find the people willing to work in a steady manner — shaping collaborative relationships across the region?
The field of artificial intelligence, despite its often displayed varieties of applications, is still a field of research.
As such if there was an expectation for this to work an AI policy group would need to hear and understand what these communities needed. It would need to help facilitate funding over longer periods of time.
Additionally it would be important to collaborate on purpose and direction.
Yes, foundational research is important and existing industries will likely want to be involved to shape this.
On the other hand: what is important now for society at large?
There are a set of different crises that are experienced across the world.
- A massive drop in employment – labour issues.
- The climate crisis — reducing emissions.
- A rapidly spreading pandemic.
- Microplastic content increasing and spreading in the oceans.
- An economic crisis, an overall system of comparative GDP measurement that does not work and hinders the right focus.
Artificial intelligence cannot solve these problems.
However, can it contribute to solutions or can the wrong applications worsen the situation? That is a more important question.
So… How could a group look like?
There are already departments in governments working on technology policy.
The Norwegian department is called ITPOL, however there are several sections spread out across the government working on digital applications.
Alternatively, one could think of it as a progressive, smaller group working together.
However what makeup would this group have?
What kind of people would be involved?
What would the activities be?
How could they make a difference for society through being of help in discussions with researchers and industry?
There is a Nordic AI Artificial Intelligence Institute.
It seems they are focused more on consulting.
There is Nordic.ai
We have Nordic Five Tech network:
Then there is Claire AI that has Nordic representation:
So there is plenty to think about.
Already several collaborations ongoing.
Yet no clear collaboration on AI policy.
Most of the funding in Norway is according to the AI strategy in Norway private.
Why not collaborate in the Nordics?
The region is already cohesive and there are several initiatives for collaboration that already exist.
With this I hope I can spark a debate or interest — questions.
Who will facilitate collaboration on artificial intelligence policy in the Nordics?
This is #500daysofAI and you are reading article 346. I am writing one new article about or related to artificial intelligence every day for 500 days. My focus for day 300–400 is about AI, hardware and the climate crisis.
