An artificial intelligence (AI) literacy initiative, focused on raising awareness of the risks and responsible use of technology for citizens in Portugal, is planned for the first half of this year, according to the national agenda’s action plan.
With the aim of fostering interest and attracting talent to AI careers and opportunities, with a focus on the responsible use of technology, a “national awareness campaign on risks, rights, standards and good practices in the use of AI is planned, reinforcing digital literacy and the ability of citizens to use technologies safely and in an informed manner”.
This initiative will begin in the first half of this year and involves entities such as the Agency for Technological Reform of the State (ARTE), the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), the National Communications Authority (Anacom), the National Cybersecurity Centre (CNCS) and the Portuguese Quality Institute (IPQ).
The second half of the year will see the National AI Week, which aims to “create a National Artificial Intelligence Week, with demonstrations, practical cases and events open to the public in educational and cultural spaces throughout the country,” as well as a “Generation AI” campaign to motivate young people to pursue different careers in artificial intelligence.
Incentives for research into responsible AI are also planned for the second half of the year.
In the first half of the year, the plan is to ensure the continuity of the Centre for Responsible AI, “enabling the coordination of critical ecosystem initiatives, as well as the assessment of the ethical, social, and economic impacts of technology and the dissemination of good practices and knowledge in the field of AI, particularly in the areas of Responsibility”.
The implementation of the AI regulation is also planned for the first half of the year.
The National Artificial Intelligence Agenda (ANIA) and its governance model were published on Thursday in the official government gazette, as well as the National Artificial Intelligence Agenda Action Plan (PAANIA) for the period 2026-2030, which is updated when necessary.
The legislation comes into force on the day after its publication, i.e. on Friday.
The National AI Agenda “is governed by six guiding principles and is structured around four areas of action with clear objectives”: infrastructure and data; innovation and adoption; talent and skills; and responsibility and ethics, according to the document.
ANIA is operationalised through 32 initiatives, involving public policies across the entire ecosystem between universities, research centres, companies (including start-ups) and public administration, ensuring an approach that includes the entire value cycle of innovation and technology maturity.