The Ten Commandments of AI

Summary

“The Ten Oil Commandments” from 1971 provided guidelines for how Norway should manage important natural resources so that they benefit the whole society. This is how Norway managed to not only build an industry, but to build increased prosperity for an entire nation. Today, Norway faces a new resource and a new force: data and artificial intelligence (AI).

AI has enormous potential to increase human welfare, but also involves unprecedented dangers. That is why Norwegian politicians need principles — or commandments — that provide direction when technology develops faster than legislation, institutions and political processes.

The Langsikt Expert Committee has therefore developed ten commandments, which are followed by specific policy proposals in separate chapters:

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1. VALUES: AI and data will strengthen the Norwegian social model. Norway needs to adapt welfare schemes, taxes and ownership structures so that the gains from transformative AI are widely shared.

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2. FOREIGN AFFAIRS: Norway to have an active foreign policy at AI. We need to work more closely with neighbouring countries, the EU, international organisations and global alliances to ensure that Norwegian interests, values and commitments are taken into account.

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3. MANAGEMENT: Effective management should create peace of mind and confidence in AI. The authorities must move from being a controller to actively helping citizens and businesses use AI within a safe framework.

4. PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE: The state shall provide a secure, efficient and sustainable physical foundation for ICT and data. Authorities must prioritise the development of infrastructure and ensure that the entire chain from power supply to end-user is protected in line with the importance for society and national security. Climate and environmental concerns must be taken into account.

5. DATA: Data to be used for knowledge development and value creation. The state needs to invest more in the collection, management and sharing of priority data sets from both public and private enterprises. We need to develop an economic model for data that provides value to Norwegian society.

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6. DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE: Public bodies will manage secure and reliable AI models for the whole society. The state must ensure that open models trained on Norwegian data are available to everyone. The models must be protected according to how important they are to society and national security.

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7. RESEARCH: Norway will have leading international academic communities within AI. Norway needs to build expertise and attract talent. It calls for increased investment in research and higher education.

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8. BUSINESS: The state should facilitate a competitive AI-driven business sector. The private sector needs good framework conditions and access to capital. Foreign investment will contribute to skills transfer, local value creation and jobs in Norway.

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9. PUBLIC SECTOR: AI to make public services better and more efficient. Innovative and responsible use of ICT and data is necessary to ensure the ability of the welfare state to provide good services in the future.

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10. CITIZENS: AI should give people meaning and mastery in work and leisure. Competence about AI must be built from primary school and throughout the working life, so that everyone has the opportunity to use the technology. AI must be used in a way that safeguards human judgment, autonomy and health.

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Download to read the full report. Please note the report is only in Norwegian. Reach out to kontakt@langsikt.no to request an English version.

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Members of the Expert Committee

• Silvia Seres - Chairman of the Committee. Technology investor, mathematician and board member with background from Oxford, Microsoft and numerous boards in business. Special Advisor in the Long Term.
• Laxmi Akkaraju - SVP Global Services & Solutions in Cognite.
• Heather Broomfield - Director of Digitization in the Directorate of Digitization.
• Paul Chaffey - Special adviser in Halogen and former State Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Modernisation for the Conservative Party.
• Morten Goodwin - Professor of Artificial Intelligence at the University of Agder, co-founder and lead researcher of AI Experts and deputy head of the Center for Research on Artificial Intelligence (CAIR).
• Marianne Marthinsen - Former parliamentary representative for the Labour Party and Director of Strategy, Insights and Analysis at Finans Norway.
• Klas Pettersen - CEO of SimulaMet and former CEO of NORA (The Norwegian Artificial Intelligence Research Consortium). ‍
• Isabelle Ringnes - Entrepreneur and speaker in the field of technology and gender equality.
• Niels Nagelhus Ski - Research professor at NUPI (Norwegian Institute of Foreign Policy) and head of the Research Group for Security and Defence.
• Eskil Grendahl Sivertsen - Special Adviser at FFI (Swedish Armed Forces Research Institute).
• Aksel Braanen Sterri - Head of department in Langsikt and researcher in political philosophy.
• Camilla Stoltenberg - CEO of NORCE and former director of the Institute of Public Health.
• Ellen Strålberg - Senior Project Manager in the Swedish Technology Council and former Director of Research in the Directorate of Digitisation.
• Christer Tryggestad - Senior Partner Emeritus at McKinsey and Senior Advisory Board Member at Long Term.‍
• Torgeir Waterhouse - Partner in Otte and former Director of Internet & New Media in ICT-Norway.

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You can read more about the background of the selection by pressing here.