Chalmers, KTH and Linköping University together constitute the country’s largest concentration of AI research and can take responsibility for a national platform in this field.
Artificial intelligence, AI, represents a transformation of cosmic proportions. One could argue that the last comparable fundamental leap occurred when human intelligence first emerged around a million years ago. We stand, more than ever, on the threshold of the unknown.
It is a breathtaking philosophical perspective. Yet the change also has very tangible effects in our immediate surroundings. It is already in the process of reshaping global competition – economies, research, defence and societal prosperity.
Encouragingly, Sweden already has a national AI strategy and action plan, and there are many Swedish initiatives in this area. However, if we are truly to maintain our position as one of the world’s most innovative countries, more is required. At present, the window of opportunity is open: we can seize the moment and coordinate Swedish initiatives – a necessity if we are not to fall behind as a nation, with eroded competitiveness and dependence on the technological development of others.
For this reason, together with my fellow vice-chancellors from KTH and Linköping, I have written an opinion piece in Dagens Industri in which we urge the government to establish a clear national mandate to bring together Sweden’s AI research. Our three universities together represent the country’s largest concentration of AI research and, along with other higher education institutions, already run WASP and the Mimer AI Factory. We are keen to take responsibility for driving such an effort together with other universities, research institutes, industry and the public sector. The mandate must be open, national and action-oriented. The goal should be to establish a shared Swedish platform for AI that can bring together key resources, strengthen excellence, and make Sweden more attractive for international investment, talent and collaboration in the field.
Link to the opinion piece on the Dagens Industri website.
Martin Nilsson Jacobi, President and CEO of Chalmers University of Technology
Under the headline "President’s perspective" the President and CEO for Chalmers University of Technology, shares his reflections on current topics that concern education, research and utilisation.