The competition, which country will be the development of Artificial intelligence quickly and successfully, is in full swing. Last year, China announced the global leader in Artificial intelligence (AI), so the automation of intelligent behavior, up to the year 2030. Recently, Shanghai has announced to invest 15 billion dollars into AI projects. Among other things, a fully digitized “Smart City should be built”. This year, France came then and announced billions in investments.

Pure Burger

Political correspondent in North Rhine-Westphalia.

F. A. Z.

Mona Jaeger

editor in the policy.

F. A. Z.

And Germany? Also here KI is the new big theme of the policy. In noble words: “We must now do everything, what is going on” (Chancellery Minister Helge Braun), and Germany should take the AI a leading place in the world (Chancellor Angela Merkel). However, the actions are – especially in international comparison – is relatively modest. In mid-November, the Federal government presented its strategy for the wide research field of AI. “Artificial Intelligence made in Germany aims to become the globally recognised seal of quality”, – stated in it.

a Minimum of 100 new KI-chairs

by 2025, the Federal government provides three billion euros among other things, for a minimum of 100 new AI professorships, support for medium-sized companies and more venture capital available. The Digital summit in Nuremberg at the beginning of the month with the Chancellor, KI played a Central role. But although Merkel is dedicated to the theme, about a trip to China a great deal of attention are scheduled in the budget for next year, only 142 million Euro for KI, such as a Letter from Michael Meister, the parliamentary state Secretary in the Ministry of education and research.

Germany, Thus, the desired development leap in AI to succeed, was already laid down in the coalition Treaty of CDU, CSU and SPD, that a Franco-German AI research center. Where it is located, is still open. At this point, the countries involved in the KI-projects of the Federal government properly. Especially North Rhine-is ambitious-Westphalia. “We have already begun to consolidate the topic of Artificial intelligence,” says the North Rhine-Westphalian Prime Minister, Armin Laschet in an interview with this newspaper. With the competence platform KI, under the leadership of the Fraunhofer Institute for Intelligent analysis and information systems in Sankt Augustin, a tip would be networked researchers who have mastered both the technological aspects of excellent as well as the ethical issues. “So they all work together, as if it were a single entity.”

It was not rich, however, that North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria and some other States went ahead. Essential more Europe”, not only because each individual nation-state is too small to be technologically at the top, but because it is also the aim was to put self-aware of the ethical Standards for the AI”. The North Rhine-Westphalian Prime Minister therefore proposes a European project, which he calls “a new digital Montan Union KI” or “KI-digital Union”.

Laschet reminded that the EU was born out of coal and steel. The Schuman Plan, which was rooted in the mining plan of the North Rhine-Westphalian Minister-President Karl Arnold with the idea of a coal and steel community, have provided the model of common values. The raw material of our time are data, which is why the creation of a value-based “KI-digital Union” would be close. Because it is not only an economic purpose, the Association in the struggle with China and America, but also to the enforcement of the European value of the image. “We want technology that serves the people – not Vice versa.” Europe must show that a responsible handling with personal data, the consideration of ethical aspects and technical innovations are compatible with each other.