The Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a fundamental tool for the progress and competitiveness of nations. Its potential to transform sectors such as health, industry, transportation, technology, and agriculture is undeniable. Its impact on the economy and society will only grow in the coming years. Spain, like other countries, has the opportunity to harness this technological revolution to drive its economic and social development. To do so, it is essential to invest in enhancing existing projects and promoting the development of new research. AI, along with quantum computing and semiconductors, will be crucial for the country’s future.
Dangers of not having own technology
The lack of investment and development in own technology can lead to serious problems:
- Technological dependence: Spain could rely on solutions and tools developed by other countries, which implies greater vulnerability and lack of control over strategic decisions related to AI. Furthermore, depending on foreign technologies could compromise data privacy and national security, as the policies and clauses of these technologies may allow for the use of sensitive user data.
- Loss of competitiveness: Without own technology, Spain runs the risk of falling behind in the global race for innovation. Other countries developing and adopting advanced AI technologies more quickly will be more competitive in the global market, potentially relegating Spain to a secondary position economically and technologically.
- Limitations in personalization and adaptation: By depending on technologies developed in other countries, Spain may encounter difficulties in customizing and adapting these technologies to the specific needs of its market and society. Imported solutions may not be entirely suitable for the country’s cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic particularities.
- Risk of biases and discrimination: AI technologies can reflect the biases and discrimination present in the society in which they are developed. If Spain does not develop its own AI technology, it could be exposed to greater discrimination. For example, language comprehension algorithms are often developed primarily in English, which could exclude other languages, including Spanish.
Spanish Agency for AI Supervision (AESIA)
The Spanish Government has taken a significant step with the creation of the Spanish Agency for Supervision of Artificial Intelligence (AESIA). This agency, headquartered in Coruña, will oversee the proper application of European regulations on AI and minimize its risks. Additionally, AESIA will foster an innovation ecosystem to attract and retain specialized talent, framed within the Digital Spain 2026 Agenda, the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, and the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan of European funds.
Mirage projects
Despite these advancements, there are initiatives that, while seemingly promising, do not contribute to the development of own technology in Spain. An example is the Responsible AI Innovation Center (RAIIC) by Microsoft, which will help accelerate the deployment of AI projects in companies and public administrations in Spain. However, this project uses technology developed by Microsoft, not Spanish technology.
Another example is ADIA Lab, an AI and advanced computing company that has established its European headquarters in Granada. While the presence of these large international companies is positive for local employment and talent, focusing on attracting foreign companies could divert attention and resources from the development of national technology.
Hope for Spanish AI: AEPIA
The Spanish Association for Artificial Intelligence (AEPIA) represents hope for the development of AI in Spain. This research group studies a wide range of topics within the field of AI, with the participation of companies and researchers funded by the Spanish government and the EU. The goal is to solve challenges and create internationally competitive AI technologies.
AEPIA research groups are distributed throughout Spain, mainly in provincial universities. Many of these research projects could evolve into startups or companies that lead the future of AI in the country.
Spanish in AI models
Within the 2024 Artificial Intelligence Strategy of the Spanish Government, the budget of the MareNostrum 5 supercomputer at BSC-CNS in Barcelona has been increased to nearly double its computing capacity. This strategy focuses on developing language models in Spanish and co-official languages (ALIA project) to avoid biases and improve understanding in these languages.
The BSC thus becomes the main axis of the Spanish AI strategy, technically coordinating these new language models. Additionally, the first massive AI system in Spanish, called MarIA, has been launched and enables summarization and text generation in Spanish.
MarIA positions Spain as the world’s third in terms of open-access AI models, after English and Chinese. With the collaboration of the National Library of Spain and funding from the State Secretary for Digitization and Artificial Intelligence, this AI model will be updated and evolved to implement chatbots in Spanish and other tools.
In conclusion, Spain has the opportunity to establish itself as a leader in the development of AI technologies. Initiatives like AEPIA and MarIA are essential to ensure that the country not only consumes foreign technology but also significantly contributes to the global advancement of artificial intelligence.