The Artificial Intelligence Strategy was drawn up on the basis of the cornerstones agreed by the Cabinet on 18 July 2018.

Artificial intelligence underpins prosperity

Chancellor Angela Merkel wants to make Germany and Europe the worldwide leader in the field of artificial intelligence. "In future Germany and Europe must be the leaders in artificial intelligence," she said on 13 November 2018 in an interview with t-online.de.

"Our entire prosperity depends on this in no small way, as does the question of whether and how we can defend our European values and the dignity of every individual, as well as protecting privacy even in the digital era," stressed the Chancellor.

Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, Peter Altmaier, also declared in Potsdam, "We want medium-sized and export-oriented businesses in Germany to make progress on digitalisation, because that will help us make productivity gains and achieve another 1.3 per cent or so economic growth. That is more than any other fundamental innovation has achieved since the steam engine was invented."

Promoting research

At international level, Germany is already one of the leading nations in the field of AI research. This research basis is to be further strengthened. First and foremost though, Germany is to become better at translating research results into practical applications in industry.

Between now and 2025 the German government intends to provide around three billion euros to implement the strategy. Funds are to be channelled primarily into research. The government is confident that this funding will be matched by equivalent private investment, meaning that an additional six billion euros will be invested by 2025.

"We will form and network research clusters," said Angela Merkel. Together with France, this network will look at the impacts of artificial intelligence on the working world, and in the field of data protection and data availability.

Setting objectives

The Artificial Intelligence Strategy lays out central goals of the German government and specifies twelve fields of action with specific measures, activities and reviews. The Cabinet has now adopted the strategy.

The government pursues three key goals with the Artificial Intelligence Strategy:

• Germany and Europe are to become leaders in the development and application of AI technologies. Germany’s competitiveness is to be underpinned.
• With the strategy, it is to be ensured that the development and use of AI is responsible and that it is pursued for the common good.
• Within the framework of a broad dialogue within society and active political steering, AI is to be firmly anchored in society in ethical, legal, cultural and institutional terms.

Planning progress

To this end the German government is to take a series of specific measures.
In particular the government is to

• Strengthen research
• Accelerate the transfer of research results into industry
• Put in place data infrastructure as a central basis for AI applications
• Enhance the availability of experts and specialists
• Actively shape structural change in businesses, on the labour market and within authorities
• Put in place an enabling environment for the ethical use of artificial intelligence
• Expand European and international cooperation on AI
• Lead and foster a dialogue across society on the opportunities and impacts of AI.

The AI Strategy is a central component in the German government strategy to implement digitalisation.