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National expert group for research on artificial intelligence and digitalisation

Ministry of Finance
Publication date 10.2.2020 12.10 | Published in English on 11.6.2020 at 16.00
Press release

The national expert group will consider, among other things, the future of research on artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies, and the societal consequences of their applications. The chair of the group, Heikki Mannila, President of the Academy of Finland, says research has an important role when we consider the necessary measures regarding artificial intelligence.

There is now a national team of experts for research on artificial intelligence and digitalisation. The term of office of the team of experts appointed by the Ministry of Finance is from 1 February 2020 to 31 December 2022.

The task of the expert group is to study the future of intelligent technologies, and in particular AI research, and to assess the impact of technologies on the various sectors of society.

The expert group will also raise and participate in discussion on national and international information, research and ethical issues related to the use of intelligent technologies. The expert group will examine the development of intelligent technologies from the climate perspective, consider the development of expertise in Finland and raise the question of the impact of technology on democracy issues.

“We need a wide-ranging debate on artificial intelligence and other smart technologies. It is important to ensure that the social impact of rapid technological development is systematically monitored and the opportunities it brings are fully exploited,” says Sirpa Paatero, Minister of Local Government who set up the working group.

Members are eminent researchers of intelligent technologies

The members of the multidisciplinary expert group are eminent researchers of intelligent technologies or their applications. The group consists of permanent and temporary members. The term of temporary members lasts for a year. The group has temporary members because the themes discussed by the expert group change each year, and the temporary members are selected according to the themes.

The expert group is chaired by Heikki Mannila, President of the Academy of Finland.

“Exploitation of research data is important also on the general level so that decision-making can be based on data. Intelligent technologies are evolving rapidly, and the role of research is important when we consider what actions are needed when it comes to artificial intelligence. The field of research in artificial intelligence and digitalisation is extensive, and the expert group is operating openly. Extensive expertise is needed to consider the actions, which includes other expertise than what is directly represented in the group,” Mannila says.

The vice chair is Kirsimarja Blomqvist, Professor for Knowledge Management at Lappeenranta University of Technology. The permanent members are Petri Myllymäki, Director of the Helsinki Institute for Information Technology HIIT, and Arto Laitinen, Professor at the University of Tampere.

The first temporary members are Minna Ruckenstein, Associate Professor at the Consumer Society Research Centre at the University of Helsinki, Jukka Riekki, Dean of the Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering of the University of Oulu, Sasu Tarkoma, Head of the Department of Computer Science at the University of Helsinki, Jaana Leikas, Principal Scientist at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, and Virpi Tuunainen, Professor at the Department of Information and Service Economy at Aalto University.

Inquiries:

Senior Specialist Anna-Mari Rusanen, tel. +358 2955 30360, anna-mari.rusanen(at) vm.fi
Senior Specialist Katja Väänänen, tel. +358 2955 30245, katja.vaananen(at) vm.fi