Introduction
Recently, the European Union and Brazil have been directing efforts toward developing "national" artificial intelligence models. While this initiative may seem strategic to strengthen technological sovereignty, it reminds me of the Brazilian military's "brilliant" idea in the 80s to establish a market reserve for information technology. It's like believing that by forcing the existence of national bicycle factories, we would produce better cyclists.
Remembering the past
History shows us that market reservation for IT resulted in technological backwardness and isolation. While the world advanced into the digital age, Brazil remained stagnant, using outdated and expensive equipment. This protectionist policy did not boost domestic innovation as expected; on the contrary, it created barriers that hindered access to cutting-edge technologies and limited the competitiveness of Brazilian companies on the global stage.
Nothing prevents each nation from focusing on developing its own artificial intelligence models. The pursuit of technological autonomy is legitimate and can bring specific benefits. However, my criticism lies in the idea of prohibiting or limiting the use of foreign models, or even allocating substantial public resources to creating national Large Language Models (LLMs), which require significant investment. These resources could be directed toward creating innovative solutions that utilize existing models on the market, optimizing time and capital.
The European Commission's recent launch of GPT@EC exemplifies this trend of focusing on internal solutions. While the intention is positive, aiming to leverage the benefits of AI in administrative processes, questions remain as to whether this is the best strategy. There are established tools, such as ChatGPT from OpenAI, which could be adapted to specific needs, saving resources and avoiding duplication of efforts.
Conclusion
Insisting on developing national models could lead us to repeat past mistakes. Technological innovation is driven by global collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the integration of efforts. Isolating ourselves in this context could mean falling behind in the technological race, missing out on opportunities for growth and development.
There's nothing wrong with each nation seeking to strengthen its technological capabilities. However, banning other models or allocating vast public resources to developing national LLMs may not be the most efficient strategy. Instead, we should leverage existing technologies, adapt them to our needs, and invest in solutions that truly make a difference.
Learning from past mistakes is essential to advancing sustainably in the global technology landscape. Instead of repeating policies that isolate us, we must open ourselves to the world, collaborate, and integrate, ensuring that we are at the forefront of innovation and prepared for the challenges of the future.
