New interdisciplinary initiative to explore the possibilities of AI

Karl H Johansson, Professor of Network Regulation, wants to explore the possibilities of AI in a new interdisciplinary initiative, Future AI. The initiative will include challenges and ethical risks in AI.
"Sweden must keep pace with the rapid international developments. The new Future AI initiative combines technological innovation with ethical aspects, creating favourable conditions for a future where AI enhances human capabilities and promotes a just and sustainable world," says Karl H Johansson.
AI has unrivalled potential
AI is one of recent decades' most groundbreaking scientific and technological advances. With its enormous potential, AI can revolutionise industries, help solve societal challenges and transform social interactions between humans and technology. Despite its great potential, its rapid development brings challenges and risks that must be addressed. The development of AI should be guided by ethical principles and promote a more just and sustainable world where AI can be a positive force that enhances human capabilities.
Future AI at KTH, a new interdisciplinary research option, can offer a unique opportunity to explore the limits of technology while ensuring responsible development. The new research initiative will focus on four areas:
- Foundational and transformative AI, focusing on developing efficient, robust and scalable AI algorithms and models that mimic human thinking, AI applications and societal impacts
- AI applications and societal impacts, to improve quality of life and health, combat climate change, planning smart cities and increasing social inclusion
- Ethical, legal and policy aspects of AI, exploring ethical dilemmas such as algorithm bias, accountability and AI autonomy
- Education and collaboration in AI will enable Sweden to keep up with international developments in the AI field, which will require continuous knowledge dissemination.
AI in healthcare and education development
KTH already plays a leading and coordinating role in some of the most significant AI initiatives in Europe, such as Digital Futures, Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Programme (WASP) and Cybercampus Sweden. The new Future AI initiative at KTH will act as a unifying force for ongoing initiatives. It will be led by Karl H. Johansson, Professor of Network Control at KTH and Director of Digital Futures.
Specific projects under Future AI that promote an interdisciplinary approach and combine KTH's research expertise in, for example, computer science, engineering science, and philosophy have great potential to solve societal problems. Areas of focus for Future AI will primarily be healthcare and education.
In healthcare, machine learning has great potential to support doctors in diagnosis and treatment decisions. For example, Sweden's extensive patient data can be used to develop personalised medicine and understand care processes.
AI can enable personalised teaching in education that supports students' different learning rates. Adaptive curricula tailored to students' maturity and skills can help lag catch up and provide challenges to those who learn faster. Collaborations with the health sector and Swedish school system industry partners are crucial to accessing expertise and implementing successful projects.
By combining technological innovation with ethical guidelines, Future AI at KTH is paving the way for a future where AI enhances human capabilities and promotes a just and sustainable world.