Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs has introduced an AI assistant that can process classified information. The service, UMAI, is now in use by an initial group of pilot users, the ministry announced on 13 October.
— Europe must have adequate understanding, competence and functional capacity to assess and utilise AI on European terms. The Foreign Ministry’s AI Assistant UMAI is a concrete example of how these objectives are being put into practice in central government in Finland, said Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen.
UMAI runs in a secure environment designed for information at national security classification level IV, the lowest of Finland’s four classification levels. According to the ministry, the pilot will provide experience of using AI in demanding government environments.
The ministry and the Government ICT Centre Valtori are pilot organisations for a common secure AI platform for central government. Lessons from the pilot could support wider use of secure AI across public administration.
The ministry says UMAI shows how authorities can keep control over data processing and technology when using AI.