Investing in AI for social good: an analysis of European national strategies

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a driving force in modern research, industry and public administration and the European Union (EU) is embracing this technology with a view to creating societal, as well as economic, value. This effort has been shared by EU Member States which were all encouraged to develop their own national AI strategies outlining policies and investment levels. This study focuses on how EU Member States are approaching the promise to develop and use AI for the good of society through the lens of their national AI strategies. In particular, we aim to investigate how European countries are investing in AI and to what extent the stated plans contribute to the good of people and society as a whole. Our contribution consists of three parts: (i) a conceptualization of AI for social good highlighting the role of AI policy, in particular, the one put forward by the European Commission (EC); (ii) a qualitative analysis of 15 European national strategies mapping investment plans and suggesting their relation to the social good (iii) a reflection on the current status of investments in socially good AI and possible steps to move forward. Our study suggests that while European national strategies incorporate money allocations in the sphere of AI for social good (e.g. education), there is a broader variety of underestimated actions (e.g. multidisciplinary approach in STEM curricula and dialogue among stakeholders) that can boost the European commitment to sustainable and responsible AI innovation.

Students’ Intention toward Artificial Intelligence in the Context of Digital Transformation

“…In recent years, governments in countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom have been heavily investing in the development of technological instruments based on AI in classroom settings [61]. Also, there are various EU national strategies in terms of resource allocation, and most of them include packages of investment in AI initiatives through the National Fund [62]. These investments may be directed toward ongoing efforts (current investments) or plans (future investments).…”

An Ambitious Artificial Intelligence Policy in a Decentralised Governance System: Evidence From Indonesia

“…However, many governments are still far from fully realising the potential of AI due to various technical and organisational challenges (Ransbotham et al, 2020), a shortage of skilled staff (Brock and Von Wangenheim, 2019), leaders’ lack of knowledge about AI (Fountaine et al, 2019), or a strategy that does not adequately incorporate technology (Dwivedi et al, 2021; Sadiq et al, 2021). Additionally, issues such as lack of trust and fear of being replaced are also mentioned as hindrances to AI adoption (Dwivedi et al, 2021; Mikalef et al, 2018, 2019; Sadiq et al, 2021).…”

“…While numerous studies have explored the development and implementation of AI strategies on a national level (Foffano et al, 2023;Gao et al, 2019;Gherhes et al, 2023;Papyshev and Yarime, 2023), there is a paucity of research focusing specifically on how countries with decentralised governance structures, such as Indonesia, navigate the complexities of integrating AI into their government systems. Additionally, there is a lack of consensus on how to effectively address the challenges of AI specifically in the public sector (Wang and Siau, 2018;Wirtz et al, 2019).…”

A critical review towards artificial general intelligence: Challenges, ethical considerations, and the path forward

“…Addressing these issues requires proactive measures to retrain displaced workers, support affected communities, and mitigate the negative impacts of automation on vulnerable populations. Additionally, policies and initiatives aimed at promoting equitable distribution of AI benefits and fostering inclusive economic growth are essential to address the ethical implications of AGI deployment (Foffano, 2023;Olushola, 2018).…”