But Google and Microsoft, whose tens of billions of dollars in investment in building artificial intelligence computing infrastructure in the region dwarfs what the Nordic countries have pledged, are the first and only tech firms to donate funding New Northern European AI (Nink) and center launched in October to organize collaborative efforts across the region. The US giants were also the only artificial intelligence firms to attend the launch and, Computer Weekly has learned, pledged their donations ahead of the launch, swearing the amounts to secrecy to the NNAI.
NNAI will be tasked with developing generative AI systems, as well as creating systems that will use AI services provided by others, government ministers from Finland, which chairs the Nordic Council of Ministers forum that created AI. Withbetween, said at its launch. But the exact plans, the scale of their ambitions and the budget have not yet been determined.
Nordic countries can develop advanced artificial intelligence systems if their industries universities and the public sector are uniting, Anders AdlerkreuzMinister of Education of Finland“, they said at the presentation. Nordic education ministers committed to do so a week later, agreeing for now not specified additional financing centerto develop a large generative AI model in Nordic, similar to the one pioneered by OpenAI.
Elementary Budget of £3.5 million (DKK 30 million) allocated by the Nordic countries center This is evidence of its strategic importance to them, she said. The only other funding came from Nordic Innovation, an agency of the Nordic Council. Microsoft and Google. NNAI is looking for other sponsors.
“When we talk about public money, it's not that simple. However, all the Nordic countries supported it through the Council. Just looking at where we are competitively and the race that's going on, we really need to step up. Humanity needs the Nordic countries to move up the leaderboard in the AI race, given the state of geopolitics.»
Microsoft and Google have said they need center to help build capacity across the region to use the artificial intelligence services provided by the infrastructure they have spent tens of billions of dollars building.
“The Scandinavian countries are an attractive region for us. We are investing a lot of money in building artificial intelligence capabilities in Scandinavia. We have put billions V, and we I definitely want to do more,” Christine Sorensen, Google’s head of Northern Europe, said at the presentation. “Eat a lot of technological innovation in the world. This requires capital investment. In this region, we have a unique opportunity to support breakthrough scientific innovations that are used to create new value.”
Google jointlyfunded NNAI because it wants the Scandinavian countries to “lead innovation in artificial intelligence”“, Sorensen said. To do this, they proposed artificial intelligence systems, and the fact that the Scandinavian countries needed to train people to use them. necessary their cooperation.
Google also hoped to use NNAI's political connections to reform AI regulation, Sorensen said, adding that nfirst two thirds Scandinavian companies say regulation is the biggest obstacle to their use of AI and that it needs to be easier for them.
NNAI charged with representing region in EU political debates. The scheme was first conceived as a means help Scandinavian companies develop and implement AI ethically and responsibly in accordance with EU regulations. Lobbying by Google and others big tech The companies have helped put pressure on the European Commission to relax AI regulations being adopted in the Nordic countries.
The Nordic countries need to develop skills and acquire computing infrastructure – for example, the one that Microsoft is building in Finland, Norway and Denmark so they can use AI to innovate,” said Teemu Vidgren, chief operating officer of Microsoft Finland. “Organizations such as the new Nordic AI are critical to facilitating this rapid learning that we need right now,” he said.
The co-directors of NNAI were not bothered by the fact that the only artificial intelligence firms funding center and its launch was attended by two American firms whose dominance in the artificial intelligence industry has affected much of the European Commission's activities. program revive European industry.
“We need to find the resources to do what's right for our region. We will work with other players where we have common goals. We want access to the best technology. His It’s important to find a balance,” said Iada Lyakhdemyaki, NNAI co-director and chief operating officer of AI Finland, one of the six national Nordic trade associations playing an important role in center Creation.
She insisted that there would be no sponsor. allowed influence either the strategic direction of the NNAI or its work. NNAI directors were unable to say exactly what they plan to do, as the issue is still under development.
“We must admit that there are still many open questions,” said Mikael. heather flowerCo-Director of NNAI and Director of AI Policy of Sweden, which will host That center headquarters. although it was clear that the Nordic countries it is necessary to cooperate in order to compete. “Global competition is tough. The EU is not leading. The Nordic and Baltic countries. [are] is not leading even in the EU. We need to pick up the pace. We have a lot of work to do.”
However, the Nordic and Baltic countries combined are the fifth largest economy in Europe and the tenth largest in the world, he said. By collaborating, they could gain a competitive advantage.
Question remainsWhat Will the Scandinavian countries invest funding into the NNAI, and what obligations do they have in this regard? Finnish ministers pledged full support as she promised to strengthen regional security. Other countries have been more restrained. Baltic countries Remain motionless.
The Nordic and Baltic countries share the ambition to become world leaders in artificial intelligence research that creates fundamental technologies as well as the applications that use them, said Finnish Economics Minister Sakari Park.
But private sector investment has created AI and will continue to lead its development, he said. Therefore, NNAI needed to help Scandinavian companies “expand and compete globally.”“, which their combined resources were required.
NNAI agreed with Google, Microsoft and Scandinavian innovations, so as not disclose their financing, Lyakhdemyaki told Computer Weekly. Large technology donations were significant, but not as significant as the £3 million contributed by governments.
“We're talking about amounts that really matter. really lucky “to attract more partners,” she said. NNAI did not expect to be able to create the world's best artificial intelligence systems on its budget. First of all, her plans was engaged in the development of applied artificial intelligence systems to solve specific problems in large industry.
“We're not trying to create a competitor to OpenAI,” she said. “We are trying to help national operators be more competitive in the use of AI. We see the biggest impact we can have is by bringing together companies and the public sector from different countries to work on joint AI frameworks or models. We can create consortia and get investment to create something in the industry that will make a difference to the rest of the world.”
