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AI and interdisciplinarity go hand in hand

26 August 2024

Björn Stafstedt

LiU has gained a strong position in artificial intelligence. That’s why the government’s AI Commission visited Campus Valla to listen to researchers and acquaint themselves with supercomputers. Perhaps they also gained the insight that an interdisciplinary holistic approach is required to achieve success.  

A group of people standing in a server hall.
The AI Commission takes a look at the supercomputer Berzelius when visiting LiU. Photographer: Magnus Johansson

When the Swedish government-appointed AI Commission visited Linköping University, it was to listen to LiU’s researchers in various cutting edge areas, but also to visit the supercomputer Berzelius. As the host of the National Academic Infrastructure for Supercomputing in Sweden (NAISS), many collaborations on the management of large amounts of data and artificial intelligence are channelled to LiU.

“In many ways, you can say that we are the higher education institution in the country that is most on the ball when it comes to AI. Some examples of this are our supercomputers Berzelius and the upcoming Arrhenius, the WASP programme and the research on visualisation in Norrköping. Further proof of our position in AI is the collaboration with Microsoft, where they have appointed us as the host of a multi-billion kronor initiative to educate in the field of AI,” says Vice-Chancellor Jan-Ingvar Jönsson.

The AI Commission clearly has a great deal of work to do, and it must be carried out urgently. Many stakeholders want to know more about Sweden’s stance, what initiatives are to be taken and how we as a country can take a leading position in international competition. This includes everything from training a large part of the population to power supplies and security issues.

The whole of society will be affected

LiU alum and renowned industry leader Carl-Henric Svanberg is chair of the Commission, and he sees great opportunities for Sweden.
A man in a checked shirt and jacket standing in front of a supercomputer.
Photo credit: Magnus Johansson
“The AI Commission is spending time understanding the basic requirements for AI to flourish and Sweden to become a leading AI country. This can include power supplies, digital networks, computing infrastructure, access to engineers, data security and much more. All these are factors that must work.”

According to Carl-Henric Svanberg, the whole of society will be, and already is being affected.
“These are complex issues, but it’s really about how we can cope with the major challenges that the public sector faces, such as an ageing population, and also achieve good growth in business with the help of AI. It’s about innovations and efficiency improvements, but I have no concerns that this will mean, for example, an increase in unemployment.”
The discussions with LiU researchers such as Fredrik Heintz (who is also a member of the Commission) and Anders Ynnerman encompassed both larger and smaller issues. Funding and cooperation between academia, industry and public authorities were common threads in the conversation. These are the questions that the AI Commission is to have answers to by the summer of next year.

Interdisciplinary focus an important success factor

LiU’s leading position in AI is further reinforced by its clear interdisciplinary focus in both research and education.

According to Carl-Henric Svanberg, it is precisely this holistic approach and collaboration across different boundaries and disciplines that can be important success factors.

“It’s great to be back at LiU and experience the AI reputation that the university has acquired with the help of Berzelius, WASP and so on. I also think it’s good that what was already there in my time, the interdisciplinary character, for example with different specialisations in engineering programmes, lives on. This is also important now that we are talking about AI. Interdisciplinarity is in LiU’s DNA!”

Contact

 
frehe08

Fredrik Heintz

Professor, Head of Division, Head of Unit

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How can Sweden become a prominent AI nation?

During their visit to LiU, Vice-Chancellor Jan-Ingvar Jönsson gave the AI Commission some points to think about that he considers particularly important to make Sweden a prominent AI nation.

These involve:

  1. Increasing investment in research and development.
  2. Ensuring the necessary infrastructure, including powerful supercomputers for advanced computing.
  3. Investing in education and skills development in the field of AI as part of lifelong learning to ensure a skilled workforce, not least in compulsory schools.
  4. Creating a favourable environment for AI startups and innovations by providing financial support, creating incubators and accelerator programmes, and facilitating access to capital and networks.
  5. Developing ethical guidelines and regulations for the use of AI to promote responsible and ethical use of the technology.
  6. Promoting collaboration between academia, industry and the public sector to promote knowledge transfer, innovation and the application of AI technology.
  7. Taking an active part in international collaborations and networks in AI research and innovation to take advantage of international knowledge, resources and opportunities.

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