The Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) aims to build an artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem as part of efforts to improve the country’s industrial environment, Minister of Digital Affairs Lin Yi-jing (林宜敬) said yesterday.
Speaking with reporters, Lin, who assumed the post last week in a Cabinet reshuffle, said that to achieve the goal of setting up an AI ecosystem in Taiwan, the ministry would implement measures covering computing, data usage, talent cultivation, marketing and funding to help the country develop stronger software capabilities.
As a first step, Lin said that the ministry would provide GPU computing, referring to general-purpose computing on graphics processing units, to AI start-ups in Taiwan free of charge.
Photo: CNA
The ministry would also revise laws to allow civil servants to release government data containing no sensitive or personal information, and plans to establish a Taiwan sovereign AI training databank for start-ups to use, Lin added.
On talent development, Lin said the ministry would release guidelines on AI professional recognition to serve as a foundation for training organizations and employers, with the aim of expanding the local AI talent pool.
The ministry would also help AI developers market their products and find business opportunities in the healthcare, long-term care and manufacturing sectors, Lin said.
“We hope AI start-ups will secure large and stable orders as soon as possible,” he said.
In addition to building an AI ecosystem, the ministry would work with private firms to improve cybersecurity resilience and establish a domestic cybersecurity supply chain by leveraging Taiwan’s strengths in the cybersecurity and integrated circuit industries, Lin said.
While the ministry has tightened regulations to block fraudulent advertisements and developed technologies to prevent fraud, Lin said it would also seek cooperation on the issue with international tech giants such as Google, Meta Platforms Inc and Line Corp.
Those companies “have to join the government to fight the anti-fraud war and cannot be just bystanders” when doing business in Taiwan, he said.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Economic Affairs has planned NT$10 billion (US$325 million) in financial assistance for AI start-ups to invest in growth and marketing, paving the way for them to secure global market share and potentially pursue stock market listings.
Separately, Lin said the MODA would continue to promote the “Taiwan Digital Identity Wallet,” which would provide a secure mobile app for digitally storing and managing personal information and identity documents.
The digital identity wallet would better protect personal privacy and boost Taiwan’s efficiency as a digital economy, Lin said.
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