Abstract

Using textual analysis methodology with Hofstede's cultural dimensions as basis for cross-national comparison, the manuscript explores the influence of cultural values of trust, transparency, and openness in Nordic national artificial intelligence (AI) policy documents. Where many AI processes are technologies hidden from view of the citizen, how can public institutions support and ensure these high levels of trust, transparency, and openness in Nordic culture and extend these concepts of “digital trust” to AI? One solution is by authoring national policy that upholds cultural values and personal rights, ultimately reinforcing these values in their societies. The paper highlights differences in how Nordic nations position themselves using cultural values as organizing principles, with the author showing these values (i.e., trust through clear information and information security, transparency through AI literacy education and clear algorithmic decision making, and openness by creating data lakes and data trusts) support the development of AI technology in society. The analysis shows that three cultural values are upheld and influence Nordic national AI strategies, while themes of privacy, ethics, and autonomy are present, and democracy, a societal building block in the Nordics, is especially prominent in the policies. For policy development, policy leaders must understand that without citizen involvement in AI implementation or lacking citizen AI education, we risk alienating those for who these services are meant to utilize and improve access for.

Highlights

  • In what seems like the blink of an eye since its origins in the mid1940s[1] to early 1950s[2], artificial intelligence (AI) is every­ where in world: diagnosing NHS patients in the UK on a level with doctors’ evaluations [3], predicting the best route for commuters on the many congested highways of China [4] and the EU [5], and even beating human competitors at humanity’s most complex games [6]

  • Textual analysis is useful for considering questions like “How does this text reflect or influence so­ cietal views?” [108] which can inform us of how cultural values may influence technology policy such as Nordic national AI policy imple­ mentation

  • Each of the four national strategic guidelines for AI incorporates to some degree the cultural values of trust, transparency, and openness

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Summary

Introduction

In what seems like the blink of an eye since its origins in the mid1940s[1] to early 1950s[2], artificial intelligence (AI) is every­ where in world: diagnosing NHS patients in the UK on a level with doctors’ evaluations [3], predicting the best route for commuters on the many congested highways of China [4] and the EU [5], and even beating human competitors at humanity’s most complex games [6] Whether it is improving healthcare outcomes or optimizing travel routes, AI is foretold to transform our societies—in ways both positive and negative [7].

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