Artificial intelligence is a crucial future technology – and the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy developed by the German government and adopted by the cabinet in November 2018 is correspondingly controversial. The government intends to make around three billion euros available for its implementation by 2025. Important key points include the establishment of competence centers, approval for at least 100 new AI professorships, AI-specific support for medium-sized businesses, and a doubling of funding for the business start-up scheme EXIST .

Industry association Bitkom has recently published a position paper with recommendations for implementation. It calls for 20 of the planned 100 professorships to be filled by the end of this year, targeted investment in lighthouse projects with international reach and – last but not least – an increase to the planned funding of three billion euros: In Bitkom’s opinion, this sum is not enough when compared with the investments being made by the United States and China.