DIG taking the lead in applying for a national research center for AI, Business and Society
This effort comes in response to the growing need to understand how organizations can create and capture sustainable value from AI technologies.
Artificial Intelligence (AI), much like previous general-purpose technologies (GPTs), has the potential to transform industries through its wide applicability and capacity for continuous improvement. It can serve as a catalyst for innovation across sectors, from reshaping competition to fundamentally altering labor markets and social structures. Despite this transformative potential, many organizations, particularly in Norway, are struggling to translate AI’s promise into real, measurable gains.
Norwegian firms are not expected to lead the development of foundational AI technologies. Instead, their competitive strength lies in adapting AI to meet the unique needs of specific sectors, leveraging their tradition of modifying technologies for local application. This is consistent with Norway’s historical ability to generate value through the rapid adoption and adaptation of digital technologies, rather than pioneering them.
To ensure Norwegian firms remain competitive in an AI future, strategic actions must be taken. This includes rethinking business models, reassessing skills, and forming new alliances to access the necessary resources and expertise. These challenges underscore the need for the new research center, which will support Norwegian organizations in unlocking AI's potential through practical and sustainable innovations.
DIG is leading this center application, collaborating with research partners such as FAIR and NoCeT at NHH, as well as the University of Oslo, Sintef Digital, FaFo, and SNF. This initiative is part of the Norwegian government's "AI billion" investment in AI research and is funded by the Norwegian Research Council. The center will focus on four pivotal areas:
AI, Competition, and Innovation
AI, Labor Markets, and the Future of Work
AI, Taxation, and the Welfare State
Responsible AI, Regulation, and Fairness
Through this initiative, the center aims to generate insights that help business leaders and policymakers to create and capture sustainable value from AI technologies while addressing its implications for labor markets and the welfare state. Strong collaborations with private industry, the public sector, and academic institutions will ensure that the center remains responsive to evolving challenges and opportunities in the AI landscape.