Government studies “digital twins” to predict AI disasters

Gonçalo Matias also assured, in a press conference in Lisbon, in the margins of the meeting of the State Simplification and Technologies Network, that digital twins are being developed by the State Technological Reform Agency (ARTE), without recourse to foreign companies.

A digital twin (“digital twin”) is an exact virtual replica of an object, process, system or even of a real person. By receiving real-time data through sensors and Internet of Things (IoT), this model processes information with artificial intelligence to simulate behaviors, predict failures, and test solutions before applying them in the real world.

The ruler also stated that the Portuguese model of AI Amália is ready and will be presented in July, and will operate within the Public Administration.

“Amália, the language model in Portuguese, will be ready and will be presented in July and, therefore, is also an instrument for the use of artificial intelligence in public administration,” the minister said.

“It is a sovereign model, and therefore, this allows us to use very specific cases, in health, for example, or even in the Armed Forces, in areas of sovereignty and in areas with some delicate information,” he added.

Gonçalo Matias also revealed that the government is examining cases of study within ministries “to better manage resources in various areas, in order to accelerate decision-making, licensing, public procurement and therefore (...) to accelerate and improve the quality of public services”.

“[The State Simplification and Technology Network] is studying the most cross-sectional solutions, let us say, and also the most specific ones, but Amalia is an instrument that is at our disposal, it will not solve all the problems, but it is an instrument that is at our disposal for the use of specific cases where there is a great need for sovereignty,” the ruler said.

Today’s meeting also discussed “the artificial intelligence training plan in public administration”, which will have an allocation of EUR 80 million, with an initial tranche of EUR 25 million.

“ We have foreseen in the Competences Pact Digital investment of about EUR 80 million for training in public administration in artificial intelligence, a first amount of 25 million, but then scalable up to 80 million, and there is this plan that is now being scheduled with face-to-face training, but also with distance training,” the minister said.

The government also estimates that by harmonising the specifications on the part of the Network, it can “have savings of about EUR 300 million”.

“ These savings largely result, on the one hand, from the harmonisation of specifications, so that the State has a single voice and a single contractual mechanism for dealing with the major suppliers of technology and, on the other hand, single contracts with the major suppliers”, he concluded.