Government Launches New Digitalization Initiative

The Austrian government has announced a new initiative aimed at enhancing digital capabilities across public administration. Dubbed the 'Digital Austria Act 2.0', this strategy is designed to modernize the administration and adapt it to contemporary needs. Key officials emphasized the necessity of integrating more Artificial Intelligence (AI) to address demographic challenges within the public sector.

The main objective of the 'Digital Austria Act 2.0' is to establish a strategic framework for the coordinated advancement of digital administration, modernizing existing tools, responsibly deploying new technologies, and ensuring Austria's 'digital sovereignty' is sustainably reinforced. A preliminary framework was initiated in 2023, but recent critiques from the Court of Audit highlighted the lack of standards for AI use within federal administration. The updated digitalization initiative aims to rectify these shortcomings.

According to government representatives, this new offensive will lay the foundation for a unified, interoperable, and legally secure digitalization strategy at the national level. It emphasizes that critical digital services will increasingly rely on European technologies and open standards, aiming to reduce dependencies while enhancing security and facilitating responsible technology deployment.

One of the primary focuses is the implementation of AI within public administration. Plans include the development of a dedicated AI platform for the adoption of language models and the creation of transparent, open AI applications. This initiative is viewed as a national priority, especially as demographic shifts necessitate the maintenance of public services.

Furthermore, the Minister for Innovation and Technology highlighted the initiative's significance for Austria's competitive positioning. The establishment of the 'AI Factory Austria' marks a significant milestone, introducing a new supercomputer that will be accessible not only to researchers and businesses but also to the public sector. This aims to create an AI hub that provides easier access to AI infrastructure and training opportunities.

Austrian digital policy is set to align with the framework established by the European Digital Decade. Officials have stated their commitment to fostering innovation while ensuring that the ultimate responsibility remains with human operators, particularly in light of the increased reliance on AI technologies.