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Aargau or Appenzell Innerrhoden? When allocating refugees to the cantons, the federal government is supported by artificial intelligence. A pilot test with an algorithm has been running for three and a half years. It calculates where a refugee has the best chances of integration – and also takes into account the distribution key that applies between the federal government and the cantons.
The aim is to increase the labor participation of the refugees. To what extent this will succeed, study director Dominik Hangartner (42) cannot yet say. The algorithm was used for 1,000 asylum applications. The ETH researcher and the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) will be able to investigate in three years’ time whether and how much better these people were able to integrate than a control group. “Switzerland was the first country with such a pilot project. Other countries such as the US and the Netherlands are now following suit’, says Hangartner.
“We hope it pays off”
Artificial intelligence is a technological process that attempts to mimic human intelligence. The computer learns with each task and can independently solve new problems.
The refugee allocation algorithm is a relatively simple tool. For example, age, origin, language skills and gender are taken into account to calculate where integration is likely to go faster – and where it will be more difficult. “It’s not witchcraft. But we hope it will pay off for both the refugees and the communities,” said the researcher.
Chatbot answers questions
The project is just one example of where artificial intelligence is already being used by the federal government – or could soon be used. Also in the administration, AI, as it is briefly called, is slowly but surely on the rise. Several federal agencies are investigating how and where the technology could relieve public officials. Or it can also make it easier for citizens to contact the government.
It is quite possible that in the future, for example, it will not be human, but artificial intelligence that will answer customs questions about what to do if you want to bring a cat from an animal shelter in Spain to Switzerland. Or if you are not sure whether you really need to do an online test to fly the purchased drone.
The Federal Office of Customs and Border Protection (BASG) and the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) are currently exploring the use of AI to answer questions from the public. The Federal Public Service of Public Health (BAG) is also seeking to rely on AI support when answering citizens’ questions.
Pollen measurement by AI
There are also completely different areas of application. The Armasuisse Federal Armaments Office wants to use the technology to identify social media fakes. MeteoSwiss is also running a project until the fall to better predict thunderstorm formation. AI is also used to measure the number of pollen: installed measuring equipment sucks in pollen and algorithms recognize which plants are involved. The automated system has been in use throughout Switzerland since the beginning of this year.
Source:Blick
I am Liam Livingstone and I work in a news website. My main job is to write articles for the 24 Instant News. My specialty is covering politics and current affairs, which I’m passionate about. I have worked in this field for more than 5 years now and it’s been an amazing journey. With each passing day, my knowledge increases as well as my experience of the world we live in today.
