Dear reader,
This is a discussion paper for a meeting of the heads of the Nordic research funding organisations (NORDHORCS) and the NordForsk board in March 2024. The discussion paper served as a starting point for conversations regarding joint Nordic work on the responsible and ethical use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). It was NordForsk’s goal to provide inspiration for an ambitious multi-tool initiative capitalising on the advantages and full potential of Nordic collaboration. The meeting discussed the proposal and agreed that a Nordic initiative on responsible and ethical use of AI would have clear added value for the Nordic region. NORDHORCS asked NordForsk to invite the national research councils to nominate members to a committee of a Nordic Artificial Intelligence Collaboration (NAIC). NAIC will be a structure for developing call(s) for research and innovation and sharing of best practices and experiences of AI in research funding. The committee will jointly develop the initiative and elaborate on the ambitions and plans.
Research and innovation is essential to build an improved understanding of how artificial intelligence can be deployed and used responsibly, to understand its societal consequences, to fully appreciate the possible ramifications of misuse, and to take advantage of its significant potentials in its numerous areas of application. It is critical that the development and implementation of regulatory frameworks and guidelines are informed by research to enable the full capitalisation of the advantages of AI and the mitigation of problematic consequences for Nordic societies.
NordForsk believes that the initiative should have significant Nordic added value to the research and innovation communities, Nordic research and innovation funders as well as the Nordic societies in general.
A Nordic initiative should respond to societal challenges that the Nordic region is facing and include AI specific challenges with a clear Nordic added value such as the consequences of AI generated content on democratic discourse, trust in content, and digital literacy. The development of AI technology is outside the remit of the initiative.
NordForsk would like to thank the national funders that have contributed to this paper.
This discussion paper was prepared by special adviser Bodil Aurstad and senior adviser Thomas Jacobsson.
The horizon scan on EU initiatives and national AI strategies have been done in collaboration with Edberg & Vittrup.
Arne Flåøyen
Director of NordForsk