Estonian president to tech sector: Adaptation to era of AI is crucial

TALLINN - In his speech at the 25th anniversary celebration of the Estonian Association of Information Technology and Telecommunications (ITL) on Thursday evening, Estonian President Alar Karis called on the technology sector to actively participate in adapting to the challenges and seizing the opportunities of the era of artificial intelligence.

"Just as you have been involved in important initiatives so far, I invite you to join this journey now: whether as a financial supporter along with other private sector companies or in other ways. There is plenty of work to be done. Learning to use artificial intelligence does not end with schools -- I expect you to bring yourselves and your businesses into the age of artificial intelligence, support relevant education and research, and nudge the entire Estonian economy and workforce," the president said.

"If 25 years ago was a time of technological breakthrough, so is now. That is why we have launched an initiative that should help the Estonian education system, economy, and society as a whole adapt to the age of artificial intelligence," Karis noted.

The president said Estonia must continue to be a world leader in technology.

"Our goal must be to continue to be a world leader, a catalyst and a tester of possibilities in the field of technology. This requires ITL to be as active and demanding a partner for the state as it has been so far."

The head of state noted that the tech sector has grown to be the third largest sector in Estonia in terms of economic contribution, accounting for about 10 percent of GDP.

"We keep saying that e-Estonia is born of cooperation between the public and private sectors -- hence the important contribution of ITL, as an organizer of cooperation within the sector and as a partner of the state. ITL has been involved in almost all important initiatives in the sector -- be it the IT Academy, the more general popularization of IT education, the improvement of cyber security, the establishment of modern communication networks, and the development of our digital state," he said.