Transforming Finland: AI for Citizen Engagement

Transforming Finland: AI for Citizen Engagement

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Finland's National AI Program
   • Reasoning for Government Action
   • Snapshot of AI and Robotics
   • Proposed Goals for AI Application
   • Measures and Plan Implementation
3. Applying AI to Society
   • AI's Impact on Industries
   • Enhancing Business Competitiveness
   • Effective Data Utilization
4. AI and the Nature of Work
   • Job Impacts and Skills Mismatch
   • Human-Machine Collaboration
   • AI's Efficiency in Employment Services
5. Steering AI in a Trust-Based Direction
   • Finland's High Level of Citizen Trust
   • International Testbed for AI Ethics
   • National Ethics Council for Technology
   • Involving Citizens and Developing Competencies
   • Encouraging Self-Regulation and Sharing of Good Practices
6. Finland's Sustainable Digitalization Strategy
   • Sustainable Industrial Digitalization
   • Accelerating productivity and Restructuring the Economy
   • Promoting Twin Transition of Carbon Neutrality and Industry Digitalization
7. Finland's Education System and AI
   • Elements of AI Online Course
   • Developing Digital Literacy
   • Using AI to Design Curriculums and Foster Talent
8. Finland's Response to the COVID-19 Crisis
   • Corona Tracking App and Privacy Protection
   • Effective Remote Education
   • Talent Boost Program and Attracting Global Talent
9. Finland's AI 4.0 Program
   • Accelerating the Fourth Industrial Revolution
   • Strengthening SME Capabilities
   • Exploring Quantum Computing and Industrial Data Platforms
10. Conclusion

🌟 Highlights

• Finland's National AI Program aims to make the country an advanced society and enhance citizen engagement through AI.
• The program focuses on various areas such as business competitiveness, effective data utilization, and preparing for the changes in the nature of work.
• Finland emphasizes ethical use of AI and involves citizens in the development of AI competencies.
• The country's education system embraces AI by offering an online course on the basics of AI and designing curriculums with AI principles.
• Finland's response to the COVID-19 crisis includes the successful implementation of a corona tracking app and the effective adaptation of remote education.
• The AI 4.0 program aims to accelerate the fourth industrial revolution, strengthen SME capabilities, and explore emerging technologies like quantum computing and industrial data platforms.

📝 Article

Finland's Journey towards an Advanced Society: Leveraging AI for Citizen Engagement

In recent years, Finland has emerged as a global leader in leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to transform its society and enhance citizen engagement. The country's National AI Program, initiated in 2017, aims to make Finland an advanced society by harnessing the power of AI across various sectors. This article explores Finland's journey towards becoming an AI-driven society and highlights the key initiatives and strategies the country has undertaken.

Introduction

Finland has recognized the transformative potential of AI and its impact on individuals, industries, and society as a whole. The National AI Program, founded by then Prime Minister Juha Sipila in 2017, was established to generate a comprehensive understanding of the current status and prospects of AI and robotics in Finland. Through this program, Finland aimed to propose a goal for the application of AI throughout the country, while also addressing broader social changes associated with digitalization.

Finland's National AI Program

The Finnish government recognized that AI would impact every person and industry in the country and saw an opportunity for Finland to define the way AI is used in societies. The National AI Program was designed to capture a snapshot of the current state of AI and robotics in Finland, followed by the formulation of a goal that Finland should strive to achieve in AI application. A steering group was appointed to propose measures to achieve these objectives, resulting in a comprehensive plan for implementing the measures and driving societal change related to digitalization.

Applying AI to Society

One of the key aspects of the National AI Program is the focus on applying AI to society, rather than just creating AI. Finland aims to enhance business competitiveness by leveraging AI in various industries. Through industry discussions, it was revealed that Finnish organizations face challenges in understanding the business potential of AI. To address this, Finland established an Artificial Intelligence Growth Group and a special program for top executives to foster AI awareness and knowledge.

Furthermore, Finland recognizes the importance of effective data utilization in all sectors. The government has emphasized the need to use data securely and responsibly, aligning national data policies with the era of AI. By doing so, Finland aims to ensure that data-driven decision-making becomes an integral part of AI application in different sectors, such as Healthcare, trade, and manufacturing.

AI and the Nature of Work

Finland acknowledges that AI will impact the nature of work, and the National AI Program aims to prepare for these changes. A report titled "Work in the Age of Artificial Intelligence" highlights the expected effects of AI on the job market. While AI is projected to replace relatively few jobs in Finland due to the low number of routine tasks, it may worsen the skills mismatch. Finland recognizes that certain tasks are best performed by a combination of humans and machines, and envisions AI empowering professionals, such as nurses, to undertake tasks currently performed by physicians. Additionally, AI is expected to enhance the efficiency of employment services by improving job matching between employers and job seekers.

Steering AI in a Trust-Based Direction

Trust plays a crucial role in Finland's AI strategy, building upon the country's high level of citizen trust. Finland aspires to be an international testbed for AI ethics, encouraging the implementation of ethical guidelines and frameworks. The establishment of a national ethics council for technology ensures that AI development remains centered around human values and principles. Finland also emphasizes citizen involvement in the development of AI competencies to promote understanding and responsible use of AI technologies.

To foster self-regulation and sharing of good practices, Finland encourages the creation of ecosystems where different stakeholders can collaborate and collectively address ethical concerns. The country also conducts cross-cutting long-term research on the societal impacts of AI and actively participates in international efforts to promote ethical applications of AI.

Finland's Sustainable Digitalization Strategy

Finland's commitment to sustainable digitalization is reflected in the AI 4.0 program. This program aims to accelerate the fourth industrial revolution by harnessing current and emerging technologies, such as AI and quantum computing. It focuses on strengthening the capabilities of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and explores the potential of industrial data platforms. Collaborating with European initiatives like Gaia-X, Finland aims to create data spaces for industries, enabling future value creation and fostering a sustainable digital economy.

Conclusion

Finland's remarkable journey towards an advanced society driven by AI underscores the country's commitment to inclusive and ethical development. The National AI Program, along with initiatives like the Elements of AI online course and Talent Boost program, paves the way for citizens to gain digital literacy and benefit from emerging technologies. By prioritizing ethical use and human-centric approaches to AI, Finland sets an example for the responsible adoption of AI in societies worldwide. As Finland continues to Shape its digital future through the AI 4.0 program, the country remains at the forefront of innovation and sustainable digitalization.

Resources:

• AI Finland 2020 online conference