WELLINGTON, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand will invest up to 70 million NZ dollars (41 million U.S. dollars) over the next seven years to accelerate artificial intelligence (AI) research and commercialization.
The funding, channeled through the New Zealand Institute for Advanced Technology, aims to support innovative AI research and applications, develop world-class expertise, and sharpen New Zealand's competitive edge, according to a government statement on Thursday.
"AI is transforming economies worldwide, and New Zealand must be bold and seize the opportunities," said Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Shane Reti.
The investment would connect researchers and businesses to fast-track commercialization, and create high-value jobs and new opportunities for local researchers, Reti said. ■
