The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) today presented a report produced by it on the status of the development and use of artificial intelligence (AI) in Germany to representatives of the Federal Government. State Secretary Professor Dr Sabine Döring (Federal Ministry of Education and Research), State Secretary Udo Philipp (Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action) and State Secretary Lilian Tschan (Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs) received the report at an event in the Futurium in Berlin.

In its report, the OECD highlights that Germany is well-positioned for AI and confirms that the Federal Government’s AI Strategy has laid the foundation stone for Germany to become a leading international AI hub, especially in the field of research. The human-centred approach opted for by Germany sets global standards for a responsible use of AI.

State Secretary Lilian Tschan (Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs) said: Establishing AI in a productive, secure and human-centred way on the basis of European values, and positioning Germany as a leading global centre for research, development and use of AI, especially in the world of work, i.e. ‘AI made in Germany’ has always been the Federal Government’s starting point and policy goal.

State Secretary Professor Dr Sabine Döring (Federal Ministry of Education and Research) added: The OECD gives a particularly positive assessment of the AI research community in Germany and the pulling power exerted by this on skilled workers and talented people. According to the OECD, the computing power available to the researchers is very good. The OECD is therefore confirming the positive impact of the policies of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research for AI research in Germany. Our AI Action Plan is continuing and building on this development.

State Secretary Udo Philipp (Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action) commented: The OECD is telling us as the Federal Government that we are on the right track and have set the right priorities, e.g. for the transfer of AI into the business sector. We want to maintain this momentum, because competition is becoming more and more intensive around the world. Here, we need to provide more European answers because, together, the EU Member States are an important international player in AI.

The study analyses the strengths and weaknesses of the AI ecosystem in Germany. Potential for optimisation exists not least in the field of access to data. The Federal Government is currently very active in this area, setting up a Data Institute and implementing the Data Act and the Data Governance Act. The report flags up Germany’s strengths in the field of research, computing capacity and sustainability. Not least, the OECD recognises strengths in Germany’s prudent regulation and targeted state funding for a human-centred digital transition and the building up of AI skills amongst employees and their interest groups.

Via the AI Strategy, which was adopted in 2018 and updated in 2020, the Federal Government ensured that Germany was one of the first countries to roll out wide-ranging policies to make itself a competitive centre for AI. The stocktake of how Germany’s AI ecosystem is faring compared with other countries provides the Federal Government with a basis on which to identify needs and options for action and to set priorities for the future implementation of the AI Strategy.

The OECD’s report was presented to the Federal Government by Stefano Scarpetta (OECD, Director for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs) and Jerry Sheehan (OECD, Director for Science, Technology and Innovation) in the presence of invited experts. The debate focused on the policy recommendations deriving from the stocktake, and the particular needs of companies (and especially of SMEs), their employees, scientists and civil society in relation to the dissemination of AI technologies in Germany.