Confederation wishes to strengthen coordination of artificial intelligence in the administration
Bern, 13.09.2024 - Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly gaining in importance und its use raises complex and dynamic challenges. For this reason, the Federal Council wishes to strengthen the coordination of AI in the Federal Administration. At its meeting on 13 September 2024, it instructed the Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA) and the Federal Chancellery, in cooperation with the other federal departments to draft a proposal by the end of 2025. The Federal Administration's existing committees responsible for AI will continue to operate as usual.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has an important role to play in the digital transformation of all areas of society, the economy, the scientific community, education and research. This also includes the digital transformation of the Federal Administration. At the same time, AI poses a multitude of challenges to do with the future of work, fundamental rights, democracy, the rule of law and security. Key questions have to be answered on the use of AI and developments in this special field must be anticipated. This requires not just interdisciplinary consensus but also the coordination of activities at national and international level.
Since 2019, the Federal Council has reiterated the importance of AI. It commissioned the FDHA, specifically the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), to establish a Competence Network for Artificial Intelligence (CNAI). Since 2022 the CNAI has supported knowledge exchange and networking in the field of AI, both within and beyond the Federal Administration.
Proposal for the further development of coordination within the Federal Administration
At its meeting on 13 September 2024, the Federal Council instructed the FDHA and the FCh, in cooperation with the other federal departments to draft a proposal by the end of 2025. The aim is to encourage synergy, innovation and trust in the use of AI in all public administrations in Switzerland. The Federal Administration would like to have a joint strategic approach to AI and the coordination of all relevant activities. For example, questions on the development and procurement of AI applications, on the necessary infrastructure in the public sector and the promotion of innovation or the training of employees should be answered and jointly agreed upon. Stakeholders from civil society and the scientific community should also be involved. Regulatory approaches to AI developed up to the end of 2024 by the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) as commissioned by the Federal Council, should be taken into consideration.
In addition, the Federal Council has instructed the Federal Chancellery, in cooperation with the departments, to develop a strategy for the use of AI in the Federal Administration. This should also be incorporated into the proposal for the further development of coordination.
Address for enquiries
Bertrand Loison, Vice-Director
Federal Statistical Office
Data Science, AI and Statistical Methods Division +41 58 463 67 70
email: Bertrand.loison@bfs.admin.ch
Federal Statistical Office
Media Office
Tel.: +41 58 463 60 13
email: media@bfs.admin.ch
Publisher
The Federal Council
https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start.html
General Secretariat FDHA
http://www.edi.admin.ch
