Jan Kocoń: The Man Behind the Polish Quest For Safe and Sovereign AI
Ben Costantini, a French entrepreneur focused on European tech growth, says Western investors express interest in Central and Eastern European startups but too often don’t follow through with action. He believes there’s untapped potential in connecting innovative startups with traditional industries and improving access to markets and clients through better-designed business exhibitions. Costantini argues that such efforts could help bridge the persistent gap between Western capital and the CEE innovation ecosystem.
Polish universities and the government are on a mission to develop the best AI model that local businesses can use for free—one that aligns with the Polish language and cultural norms. The goal is also to empower citizens in their online interactions with government services.
“If your entire business or workflow relies on external technology, you’re vulnerable—and eventually, you’ll have to pay for it,” says Jan Kocoń, head of the team developing PLLuM, an open-source large language model for Polish, at the Department of Artificial Intelligence at Wrocław University of Science and Technology.
In our interview, he also talks about:
Why creating a native Polish AI model matters
Whether investments in AI sovereignty are justified
Whether PLLuM aims to compete with ChatGPT, and how it compares
When will PLLuM reach practical usability in the public sector
What kind of feedback has the model received following its early release
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