A brief historical overview of artificial intelligence research

1.1.Overview of recent national and regional AI strategies

Developing capacity for AI research, technology, and application is increasingly perceived as essential to national competitiveness, security, and economic strength. In the last few years, several countries and regions have developed and released AI strategic plans as they race towards global leadership [8]. These strategies usually contain at least one of three frequent components:

1.2.Americas: The United States (USA) shows early and continued interest in AI

In October 2016, the National Science and Technology Council released a report entitled Preparing for the Future of Artificial Intelligence [9]. The report was a clear signal of the USA’s interest in AI, and noted that unclassified research on AI was being managed through the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development program, with the support of several federal funding agencies. At the time of the report, federal investment in unclassified AI research was estimated to be $1.2 billion (US) and it was recommended that future investment should focus on basic research and long-term, high-risk initiatives, as the private sector investment in R&D would be limited. The 2016 National Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Strategic Plan [10] that accompanied the report set several objectives for federally funded AI research, such as ensuring effective human-AI collaboration, developing shared public datasets, and measuring and evaluating AI technologies through standards and benchmarks. That plan was updated in 2019 [11], evidence of the USA’s continued interest in AI. In 2018, the White House hosted the “Artificial Intelligence for American Industry” [12] summit, which promoted a “free market approach to scientific discovery that harnesses the combined strengths of government, industry, and academia” and examined “new ways to form stronger public-private partnerships to accelerate AI R&D”. AI was included as a priority area in the FY19 budget, particularly funding for projects focused on transportation, healthcare, workforce training, and military applications.

Beyond the USA, there is appetite for AI in the rest of the region. For example, Canada became the first North American country to release a national AI strategy in 2017 and Mexico recently released AI research priorities and strategic outlines.

1.3.Asia: AI in China develops quickly

In July 2017, China issued its New-Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Plan [13]. This document set key targets for China to become a world leader in AI theory, technology, and application by 2030. China’s first milestone is to reach globally-advanced AI levels by 2020. The three-year action plan specifically focuses on strengthening China’s manufacturing capabilities and support systems and attracting and training a skilled AI workforce. China’s ambition in AI is backed by government funding of more than $2 billion (US) for major R&D programs in 2018 [14] and a $2.1 billion (US) investment into an AI technology park in Beijing. In addition to these investments, large datasets (consistent with the size of the Chinese population) and relatively relaxed data regulations have created an advantage for China. Chinese corporate giants such as Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent are also focussed on AI research, alongside investment firms such as Sinovation Ventures [15], which established an AI Institute in 2016.

Beyond China, interest in AI in Asia is exemplified by various national-level document releases in recent years. In 2018, Think Tank NITI Aayog published a discussion paper setting the agenda for India’s national AI strategy [16]. Japan unveiled its Artificial Intelligence Technology Strategy in March 2017 [17], while the South Korean government announced a five-year plan to invest in and strengthen AI research and development. AI plans and programs are in various stages of development in Malaysia, Singapore, and Taiwan.

1.4.Europe: The European Commission seeks to unify AI frameworks across the region

In April 2018, the European Commission (EC) outlined a three-pronged approach to AI:

These strategies are supported by the EC’s plans to increase AI research funding to €1.5 billion for the 2018–2020 period under the Horizon 2020 program. Per the commission, “this investment is expected to trigger an additional €2.5 billion of funding from existing public-private partnerships, for example, on big data and robotics [18]”. The EC also advocated for a “European AI Alliance” to foster cooperation across member states. This collaborative spirit is also reflected in the Declaration of Cooperation on Artificial Intelligence [19] on issues such as research, socio-economic challenges, and legal and ethical frameworks signed by European Union (EU) members. The importance of AI to the EC is clearly articulated in the Joint Research Centre’s 2018 AI report, which outlines a broad range of industrial, business, and research activities (including patenting, frontier research, venture capital, start-ups, and public-funded projects) [20]. The launch of an AI watch facility in December 2018, which functions to monitor and analyze AI developments, further exemplifies the importance of AI to the EC.

Several European member states have also published national AI strategies in recent years, resulting in a diversity of approaches in the region. France recently declared AI a national priority [21] and announced a strategic plan For a Meaningful Artificial Intelligence [22]. In March 2018, Italy released Artificial Intelligence at the Service of Citizens [23] and the German government released a national AI strategy in November 2018 [24]. The United Kingdom (UK) published its Industrial Strategy [25] in November 2017 and its Artificial Intelligence Sector Deal in April 2018 [26]. Other European countries that have recently released national strategies or reports on AI include Finland (Finland’s Age of Artificial Intelligence [27]), Denmark (New Strategy to Make Denmark the New Digital Frontrunner [28]), and Sweden (National Approach for Artificial Intelligence [29]). Several Nordic and Baltic countries have also formed a regional collaboration in 2018 to develop AI capacity.

1.5.Interest in AI is a global phenomenon

Strategic planning in AI is underway in several other countries [30]. For instance, the United Arab Emirates launched an AI strategy in 2017, the first country to do so in the Middle East. Russia has released research priorities and strategic outlines while Tunisia and Kenya have formed task forces to examine the development of AI in Africa. Together, these efforts underscore the growing recognition by individual countries and regions of the potential impact of AI on society and human life and the need to develop knowledge and expertise in this field.