Swiss initiative aims for global leadership in AI
The Federal Institutes of Technology in Lausanne and Zurich have launched an ambitious initiative called Swiss AI to position Switzerland as a leading global center for artificial intelligence (AI). The aim of the initiative is to develop and train new large language models (LLM), such as ChatGPT, while ensuring transparency, a key differentiator compared to existing models available to the public.
Jan Hesthaven, Academic Vice President of EPFL, emphasized the importance of clarity regarding the training data and the process of arriving at results. The universities’ commitment to transparency is in response to concerns surrounding the ethics of AI.
To further strengthen Switzerland’s position in the AI field, the initiative plans to put the Alps supercomputer into operation at the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS) in Lugano by February 2024. This cutting-edge supercomputer is expected to be one of the most powerful in the world, offering Switzerland a significant competitive advantage.
By pooling the expertise of around a dozen Swiss universities, universities of applied sciences, and research institutions, the Swiss AI initiative aims to harness the collective knowledge of more than 75 professors. This collaboration will undoubtedly contribute to Switzerland’s prominence in the field of AI, offering both opportunities and risks.
Supercomputing infrastructure is currently scarce worldwide, primarily due to the rapid growth of generative AI, with only a few large companies owning the majority of it. Therefore, Switzerland’s investment in the Alps supercomputer will not only boost its AI capabilities but also strengthen its global standing.
The significance of the Swiss AI initiative extends beyond Switzerland’s borders, as it seeks to place the country at the forefront of AI research and development globally. With its commitment to transparency and collaboration, Switzerland aims to drive advancements in the field while addressing the ethical concerns associated with AI.
As Switzerland’s AI-focused initiative gains momentum, researchers, institutions, and tech enthusiasts around the world eagerly anticipate the groundbreaking developments that will undoubtedly emerge from this ambitious endeavor. With its emphasis on transparency, collaborative efforts, and cutting-edge technology, Switzerland is well positioned to make significant strides toward global AI leadership.
