At AI & Robotics Estonia, we decided to focus on adaption AI and smart robotics for production, manufacturing companies and technology providers . While a lot of attention has been given to large language models like ChatGPT, one of our core missions is to promote other technologies that uses AI, focusing on smart robotics and explore how robotics can benefit society. 

Our long-term goal is for Estonia to significantly increase its number of robots per employee. For instance, in South Korea, there are more than 1,000—around 1,200 robots per 10,000 employees—while Estonia has fewer than 100 depending on statistics. We believe we need to move towards a more robotized society, where humans can focus on more human-centric tasks, and robots take on the more technical work. Like in Estonia, Germany also faces a shortage of people available for routine and technical jobs.

 While much of the conversation around artificial intelligence centers on large language models, less attention is given to AI integrated with hardware, such as robots or industrial machinery. For example, we are currently working on numerous quality control projects. These projects use machine vision to detect defects and quality issues, areas where humans tend to make more errors. With AI and machine vision, waste in production can be significantly reduced. These are some of the areas we are focusing on more these days.

In terms of challenges, the first major issue is always the lack of data. A large amount of high-quality data is required to train robots, and this process takes considerable time. Companies need to evaluate whether it’s worth the investment, as their main goal is profitability. We assist by raising awareness, increasing visibility, and providing data for investment decisions. While we are overcoming this challenge more and more, data limitations were the primary issue about a year ago, and smaller companies still face difficulties in acquiring the necessary data to train their robots to function effectively.

Secondly, mobile robots face physical and engineering related obstacles. They perform well on smooth roads but struggle in rough landscapes like forests. For instance, we collaborated with Milrem Robotics on a project to train robots to navigate bumpy and forested roads. These types of projects are also relevant for dual-use applications in the military.

A third issue, common across Europe, concerns self-driving technologies that rely on cameras. The introduction of the AI Act has caused uncertainty, as some innovation projects might be delayed until the compliance requirements are clearer. Regarding the AI Act, our primary concern is that European companies should not have to postpone their high-risk projects compared to the rest of the world.

 A longer-term goal for us is to move further into the field of drone development, where I see many opportunities. We are currently taking the first baby steps in this area, but I believe there are significant benefits not only for civil applications but also for dual-use purposes. If we are innovative enough in the drone field—essentially flying robots—there is great potential for drones in civil sectors.

 Drones can make a real difference in the healthcare sector. For instance, if patients in remote areas urgently need blood or medication, drones can be used to deliver these supplies quickly. I know several countries are already piloting drone delivery systems for medical supplies—Switzerland, for example—but not many other European countries have done so yet. This is an area where I see great potential. I hope that Estonia can serve as a good pilot country for civil applications of drones, as well as dual-use developments that could contribute to global peace. We are working across various sectors to support the piloting and testing of drone technologies.