" AI - a reality check "

The economic success story of "Switzerland" has always been able to establish itself through the inventiveness of innovative entrepreneurs and quality features. "Our universities, start-ups, corporate AI labs and SMEs form a relevant AI ecosystem", the two managing partners and co-founders of the multiple award-winning start-up "SwissCognitive - The Global AI Hub" are also convinced.

Dalith Steiger and Andy Fitze (see end of text, p. 6) not only share a passion for cognitive technologies, as entrepreneurs they are also committed to a competitive Swiss workplace and the "younger generations". To this end, the two have launched the CognitiveValley movement - "One AI Voice for Switzerland" - in 2019.

On the "Swiss Quality Day 2020", entrepreneurs will show how far the tech giants have advanced in terms of the intelligent use of data.

What does this mean for Swiss SMEs? What is positive? Where are the stumbling blocks? What has changed as a result of Covid-19? Finally, the key questions are: Does AI increase the quality of our services and products? And what does that mean for employees?

Researchers, entrepreneurs, individual specialists - who benefits from your network?

Dalith Steiger: SwissCognitive "The Global AI Hub" is a competence network platform for artificial intelligence, AI, and stands in particular for a strong Swiss workplace.

All parties in the ecosystem can profit, regardless of their maturity in the subject of AI. However, those who actively participate in the future benefit the most.

Educating people about the effective options and bringing the issue to a tangible level is our goal.

Andy Fitze: We build bridges between business, academia and specialists. The broad discussion of ethical challenges and implications for society are just as important to us as highlighting real opportunities for new areas of business. We visit the companies, give lectures and organize workshops for the company managements, boards of directors, as well as for their clients and employees.

How is SwissCognitive going about enabling AI exchanges for companies of all sizes?

Andy Fitze: Our credo is "Why Wait? Act Now! And Share for Success!". These are not just words, we move and encourage our customers to share with everyone about AI. And not just about "best practice", but also about the "worst failures", so our workshops are also about how to overcome the hurdles of digitization. Dalith Steiger: We actively involve our partners in our network to strengthen and promote the AI ecosystem in Switzerland. We are an absolutely content-driven, practically oriented exchange platform. The exchange takes place in our own and external formats. On the Day of Swiss Quality, on 13 May 2020, you will find us at the SAQ Congress, where we will also be a virtual programme partner.

Switzerland is a country of SMEs and that is the strength of our country. That is why it is important that everyone has access to cognitive and smart technologies. Digitalisation helps SMEs to develop traditional products and services and also to make them smarter.

What was your experience with AI before Covid-19 and what is the attitude of Swiss companies towards AI since March 2020? Dalith Steiger: Innovative companies and experts who could afford it had already partially invested in cognitive technologies before the crisis. Now we have been catapulted violently out of our comfort zone. The willingness to use new technologies and innovative approaches has increased. Companies that previously had little to no exposure to the potential of digitalization are taking their first steps. We see a broader field of application around digitalization.

Do you know of any businesses that benefited from new digital tools during the Corona Crisis?

Dalith Steiger: Yes, basically everyone who uses AI to exploit the immensely growing amount of data for the benefit of their business. Andy Fitze: Many companies that have so far paid little attention to their potential with digitalization are looking for new opportunities. By no means does AI even have to be involved. Many companies have now had to go online out of compulsion, for example, schools and teachers have had to come to terms with online possibilities and use them without a test phase. The pragmatism of the individual has increased.

Do you still see differences in the development of AI in the individual regions of Switzerland?

Dalith Steiger: We like to look at Switzerland as a whole. Our small size is a big advantage. We are similar in size to Silicon Valley. The distances are short and the network is strong. We can speak more of AI hotspots. We Swiss can be proud of the globally recognized AI competencies of ETH/EPFL, the University of Zurich and Basel, the Lucerne and Rapperswil Universities of Applied Sciences and Arts, IDEAP in Welschland and Dalle Molle in Ticino, to name but a few. In addition, there are the various Corporate AI Labs.

Andy Fitze: We are convinced that Switzerland can become a leading centre of excellence for artificial intelligence. In research and development, in global companies, SMEs and start-ups, AI is already an important and recognised factor in the Swiss economy. Now is the time for us to have a say in the international dialogue.

In 2019, we initiated the CognitiveValley label at EPFL Lausanne for a global AI movement. Switzerland, and Swiss universities of applied sciences in particular, have an important voice on the global AI stage.

Are there also rules or standards that are opening up, particularly in Switzerland, with regard to dealing with AI technologies?

Dalith Steiger: Skills in education and research have an important role to play in meeting the challenges of AI. In the meantime, there is an interdepartmental working group in Switzerland that prepares the Swiss for challenges in the context of AI. Furthermore, Switzerland is predestined to become the place in the world where ethical issues, rules and "codes of conduct" relating to AI are debated and decided, for example with the UN at its headquarters in Geneva. We enjoy a global reputation for being neutral and trustworthy. We can create the necessary framework to become a kind of "center of gravity" in the discussions around ethical and moral issues.

What do you see as future scenarios for the development of AI in Switzerland - as far as the Swiss economy in general is concerned?

Andy Fitze: We already have good industrial applications of AI, now is the right time to jump on the bandwagon, to make our products and services smart. In addition to the potential for optimisation and increased efficiency, the new technologies open up the possibility of new industries with a high export share. This in turn will be able to increase our GDP and sustainably strengthen our workplace for generations to come.

The speed in other countries is being increased, and our SMEs can seize the opportunity now. For example, the associations can promote SMEs in this area. It is also important to find out what the sensible first steps can be.

Does AI still have a difficult time with the Swiss population - for example, in terms of trust in the new technology or possible security gaps?

Andy Fitze: Trust in technologies and their impact on society are very important prerequisites for their development and implementation. The Swiss population wants to understand things and have technological debates. As can be seen, for example, in topics such as the frequency impact of G5. The population cares and is interested. Maturity development, however, needs a lot of time and intensive education.

Dalith Steiger: If we want to be globally competitive and build local industries with cognitive technologies, we need to accelerate the process. The willingness to use new technologies is a prerequisite for this. The Corona period puts us under additional pressure. We are forced to act economically and provide advance trust. Now we have to act. Where before there was a lot of ignorance and scepticism, we now find openness and an increased willingness to innovate.

Now it is up to each of us to intelligently help shape our and our economy's future.