Technology

What you as a politician can do

• Foster competition in digital markets: When setting rules for digital markets, encourage competition, for instance by promoting the use of open standards which enable interoperability and independence of private or professional users from mainly one or only a few providers. A lively competition will nurture more innovative, more useful and more easily affordable digital products and services for both consumers and companies. It will strengthen your national companies, your national economy, and your country within the international competition.

• Artificial intelligence: Neither the invention of book printing nor the steam engine nor computers and the internet have led to mass unemployment (as fearfully predicted by many) - and hopefully AI won't either. But, as often when it comes to groundbreaking inventions, many might need help (e.g. financial support or further training) in case that their jobs or companies are either replaced or changed dramatically. At the same time, it's advisable to prepare society in time for potential dangers and benefits. If individuals, companies and institutions learn how to use the potential benefits of AI early on, it might be a comparative advantage for the whole country in the end. Similar considerations apply to the expected high power consumption of AI: If you foster the production and use of renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy saving, and the like early on, you'll very likely enjoy cost and environmental benefits in the long run (while other countries may have to resort to outdated and expensive forms of energy in the last minute, which may also be potentially harmful to the environment and health).