New AI centre launches at University of Copenhagen

There is plenty of space to think big at the new National Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Society (CAISA).

The centre has moved into the former reception area of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Copenhagen (UCPH) and is, for now, furnished only with a couple of unusually tidy sit-stand desks and a few office chairs. An empty safe stands open, and a few binders have been left behind on the old reception desk.

»In a couple of months, we’ll be 20 people. We’re in the middle of recruiting postdocs and setting up fellowships that researchers from Denmark and abroad can apply for to contribute their expertise to our joint work. And we’re also looking forward to welcoming a bunch of interns,« says Rebecca Adler-Nissen, professor at the Department of Political Science and newly appointed head of CAISA.

The centre is part of the Danish government’s strategic initiative on AI. It states that »Denmark should take the lead when it comes to the responsible use of the opportunities that AI offers — particularly in terms of improving welfare, making the public sector more efficient, freeing up time for core tasks, and generating growth.«

In addition to its base at the University of Copenhagen (UCPH), the centre also has facilities at Aalborg University and brings together researchers from Aarhus University, the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and the IT University of Copenhagen.

Although the centre was only officially inaugurated on 9 May 2025, Rebecca Adler-Nissen, Deputy Director Thomas B. Moeslund from Aalborg University, and the centre’s leading researchers had already been preparing the groundwork for several months — and the first four pilot projects are already underway.

One of them is part of a wider international study and explores, among other things, how generative AI — a type of AI that learns from existing data to generate new content — is used in everyday life. The study also investigates how Danish citizens perceive AI solutions when they are used by public institutions.

»AI — and especially generative AI — has hit us like a tornado. Many sense that we are at the dawn of an era comparable to the start of the industrial revolution. People talk about AI as a train that we need to catch. But before the train can run, the tracks have to be laid. Where those tracks were laid in the 19th century is where development has since taken place,« says Rebecca Adler-Nissen, adding:

»Many people are fascinated, others are afraid of what might happen if they miss the AI train. CAISA’s task is to map out how we, as a democracy, can best develop and handle both the challenges and opportunities — because we face a lot of choices,« she says.

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Knowledge over hype

Developing artificial intelligence that benefits society requires interdisciplinary collaboration between researchers, decision-makers and businesses, according to the head of CAISA.

»Artificial intelligence is currently surrounded by a lot of a lot of hype and empty promises. This only increases the need for research-based knowledge about what AI can — and cannot — do,« says Rebecca Adler-Nissen.

Research takes time, and it might seem like CAISA is already trailing behind giants like Microsoft and Amazon.

We have a responsibility to help enhance digital self-determination and ensure that democracy and rights aren’t dismantled as AI is rolled out

Centre Director Rebecca Adler-Nissen

»China and the United States are leading the field, but other continents are also advancing, and Denmark has many skilled researchers within the broader domain of artificial intelligence. Ideally, we would pool our efforts in a global collaboration to use AI for the benefit of humanity,« she says, adding:

»And the UN would very much like to contribute to this — but then security and geopolitics come into play. It turns into a battle over power and ideology, which has unfortunately made things more difficult in recent years.«

But even though research is slow, the centre has committed to regularly publishing short summaries — or ‘briefs’, as they call them — of what their research has already revealed.

»We’ve planned several long-term projects aimed at the future, but we’re also allocating resources to quickly and flexibly initiate shorter projects and work with all the many talented researchers and fantastic research environments across Denmark,« says the centre director.

»Artificial intelligence is a field developing at breakneck speed, and we’re committed to increasing digital self-determination and ensuring that democracy and rights aren’t dismantled as AI is rolled out.«

A public chatbot

The short briefs are intended as self-help tools — giving citizens and decision-makers a better foundation for making informed choices.

In addition, CAISA will collaborate with officials in ministries, regions, and municipalities, as well as with companies, to share the latest scientific breakthroughs and international experiences.

Many public officials and large parts of the business community say they don’t have time to read — or always understand — academic articles

Centre Director Rebecca Adler-Nissen

»Many public officials and large parts of the business community say they don’t have time to read — or always understand — academic articles. And that makes sense, because they’re not the primary audience. But when we sit down together to discuss specific challenges and questions, we as researchers can help make more informed decisions decisions for the benefit of citizens and society — and this way we also gain insight into where the pressure points are,« says Rebecca Adler-Nissen.

She has worked for the Confederation of Danish Industry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and held research fellowships in countries including Italy, France, and Canada. She was also deputy director of the Copenhagen Centre for Social Data Science (SODAS), and is now CAISA’s director and a professor of political science specialising in international politics, the EU, and digital technologies.

»I’m very focused on strengthening ties and collaboration across research fields as well as across national and international divides,« says Rebecca Adler-Nissen.

Since the launch of the centre, she has received around 40 emails a day from people in Denmark and abroad wanting to get involved.

»Researchers normally bury themselves in their specific fields, but when it comes to AI, I’ve encountered a huge willingness to work across disciplines. The development of artificial intelligence is not business as usual — and that’s clear from the massive enthusiasm that’s come our way.«

As an example of the need for interdisciplinary cooperation, she mentions the development of a public chatbot, and other AI solutions, that answer questions from citizens just as well no matter their age, gender, geography, or if they have challenges like dyslexia.

»At CAISA, we aim to research and advise on how best to navigate the rapid pace of technological development. That’s why we’re launching a series of activities where we can learn from one another’s experiences and build on the latest research and ongoing initiatives,« says Rebecca Adler-Nissen.