Delivered November 24th, 2020. Contributors: Cliff K.
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AI National Policies: Part 1
An analysis of the development of National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategies' of various countries was conducted. The result of this analysis is provided in this brief, as well as, in rows 2-14 of the attached spreadsheet. This exercise comparedeach nations's developments with those that had been captured in this document. Of the 13 countries analyzed, only three had made changes to their national AI policies. Below are insights on each country's AI efforts.
Canada successfully established three new artificial intelligence institutes, namely; “Amii in Edmonton, Mila in Montreal, and the Vector Institute in Toronto”. Collectively, these three institutes have trained over 1,200 postdoctoral fellows and graduate students.
Under the Pan-Canadian AI Strategy, Canada has recruited or retained 80 of the world’s leading AI ethicists and scientists as CIFAR (Canadian Institute For Advanced Research) AI Chairs.
Through collaboration with partners in France and the U.K., CIFAR has developed research into the societal implications of the use of AI, under CIFAR’s AI & Society Program.
CIFAR’s Action Plan on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) was approved by CIFAR’s board of directors in April 2020. The document highlights measures to be used to promote Equity, Diversity and Inclusion throughout the organization.
In September 2019, CIFAR setup the AI for Health (AI4H) Task Force to chart out a road map on how AI could be used in Canada’s health care system.
On March 23, 2020, CIFAR established the “AI and COVID-19 Catalysts Grants”. Through this initiative, CIFAR is supporting 14 AI research projects that address the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chile
Chile is yet to develop its national AI strategy policy document. However, it has continued to conduct various activities aimed at producing the document. Below are some developments:
On August 20, 2020, there was a workshop on the scope of AI technology uses as part of efforts at developing Chile’s National AI Policy.
On August 19, 2020, a participatory meeting on the scope of use of AI technology was held in the regions of Los Rios, La Araucania, and Los Lagos as part of initiatives geared at developing Chile’s National AI Policy.
On July 14, 2020, Chile’s Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation extended period for the citizen participation process to August 30, 2020. This process is held through digital work groups where individuals and groups offer their views on the development of the country’s National Policy on AI.
On June 22, 2020, the Ministry of Science held a webinar on “AI and Gender” as part of efforts at developing the National Policy on Artificial Intelligence.
On May 26, 2020, the Danish Parliament passed an amendment to the Danish Financial Statements Act. Under this amendment, large listed companies must include their policy on data ethics and algorithm within their management report. If such companies do not include these policies, they must explain why they have neglected to do so. This law came into force on July 1, 2020, and will effective for the financial year that begins on January 1, 2021, or later.
An analysis of the development of National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategies' of various countries was conducted. The result of this analysis is provided in this brief, as well as, in rows 15-27 of the attached spreadsheet. This exercise comparedeach state's developments with those that had been captured in this document. Of the 13 countries analyzed, only five had made changes to their national AI policies. Below are insights on each country's AI efforts.
On September 9, 2020, Hungary’s Minister of Innovation and Technology — László Palkovics, officially unveiled Hungary’s Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2020-2030. The strategy’s foundation pillars are:
Setting the data economy in motion
Research, development and innovation
Incentivisin uptake
Education, competence, development, and societal preparedness
On August 10, 2020, the Indonesia National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence was officially launched. The document explores measures that will be taken by the country to develop AI technologies for the period 2020 to 2045. The document has four key areas of focus:
On July 2, 2020, Italy’s Ministry of Economic Development announced the release of the Italian Strategy for Artificial Intelligence report. This document was prepared by the group of experts who were appointed by MiSE (MinisterodelloSviluppoEconomico). These experts also incorporated the views of the public.
The Italian government has earmarked €1 billion in public investments for the implementation of the country’s AI strategy by the end of 2025. It is expected that this investment will elicit private investments of the same amount.
Japan’s AI Strategy 2019 provides policy direction for AI developments at both the national and local government levels. The document has three basic principles:
Dignity — Promoting human dignity within the society.
Diversity and Inclusion — Developing a “society in which people with diverse backgrounds can pursue their own well-being."
Sustainability — Promoting a sustainable society.
Kenya
On July 25, 2019, Kenya’s Distributed Ledger and Artificial Intelligence Taskforce presented its recommendations on how the country can develop a roadmap that will ensure the utilization of emerging technologies (like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and distributed ledgers) in the next 15 years.
An analysis of the development of National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategies' of various countries was conducted. The result of this analysis is provided in this brief, as well as, in rows 28-39 of the attached spreadsheet. This exercise comparedeach nation's developments with those that had been captured in this document. Of the 12 countries analyzed, only four had made changes to their national AI policies. Below are insights on each country's AI efforts.
Poland is yet to develop its AI policy. However, the "Policy for the development of artificial intelligence in Poland" was adopted by the Committee of the Council of Ministers for Digitization (KRMC) on September 14, 2020. The document has six main areas:
Ambition: Saudi Arabia’s NSDAI is geared at transforming the kingdom into a leading global player in the data and AI space.
Skills: The NSDAI aims “to transform the current and future Saudi workforce, through education, and upskilling and reskilling that will enable Saudis to utilize the power of data and AI, in public and private sectors.”
Policy & Regulations: Saudi Arabia will endeavor to develop a globally recognized regulatory framework that will stimulate the growth of data-driven businesses.
Investment: The NSDAI will seek “to attract and incentivize local and foreign investors and companies to encourage investment in qualified opportunities within Saudi Arabia.”
Research & Innovation: Saudi Arabia will create and foster core research and innovation institutions in AI and data which will ensure the Kingdom becomes a global leader in the “development and commercialization of new technologies.
Ecosystem: The NSDAI will seek to “stimulate data & AI adoption through the creation of a collaborative and forward-thinking ecosystem.”
The NSDAI seeks to “train 20,000 specialists and experts, have 300 active startups and attract $20 billion in national and foreign investments in data and AI" by 2030.
Singapore
On November 25, 2019, the Singaporean government launched the country’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy document. This document “spells out our [Singapore’s] plans to deepen our use of AI technologies to transform our economy, going beyond just adopting technology, to fundamentally rethinking business models and making deep changes to reap productivity gains and create new areas of growth. “
Singapore’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy document spells out the country’s vision of becoming a leader in the development and deployment of “scalable, impactful AI solutions, in key sectors of high value and relevance” to the country’s citizens and businesses by the year 2030.
This strategy has to two main components, namely; National AI projects and AI ecosystem enablers.
Singapore’s National AI Strategy includes development the of AI technologies in five national AI projects that involve the following areas: Smart cities and estates, safety and security, transport and logistics, healthcare, and education.
Singapore’s National AI Strategy outlines five AI ecosystem enablers which are believed to “drive AI innovation and adoption across” the country’s economy. These enablers are triple helix partnership, international collaboration, progressive and trusted environment, AI talent and education, and data architecture.
Part
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Part
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AI National Policies: Part 4
An analysis of the development of National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategies' of various countries was conducted. The result of this analysis is provided in this brief, as well as, in rows 40-51 of the attached spreadsheet. This exercise comparedeach state's developments with those that had been captured in this document. Of the 12 countries analyzed, only two had made changes to their national AI policies. Below are insights on each country's AI efforts.
National AI Strategies Highlights
South Africa
On October 23, 2020, South Africa’s Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies — Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, published the Gazette recommendations of the Presidential Commission on the 4th Industrial Revolution (PC4IR). This report provided insights on how the South African government can develop a road map towards the development of advanced technologies that include artificial intelligence, internet of things (IoT), robotics and distributed ledgers among others.
South Korea
On December 17, 2019, the Korean government launched the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence document. The vision set out in this document is “Towards AI World Leader beyond IT.” Through this vision the country “aims to achieve digital competitiveness, create huge economic effect of AI, and improve quality of life for people by 2030.”
South Korea’s National Strategy for AI encompasses “100 government-wide action tasks under 9 strategies in three areas of AI”.
The nine strategies include: AI infrastructure enhancement, nurturing global AI start-ups, drastic regulatory innovation and revision of laws, securing competitiveness in AI technology, building the best-performing digital government, diffusing AI technology across all industry areas, nurturing world’s best AI talent and educating people, preventing dysfunction and establishing AI ethics, and establishing an inclusive job safety network.