New Norwegian research centre for artificial intelligence and creativity

Professor Alexander Refsum Jensenius will lead MishMash Centre for AI and Creativity, one of six centres that share the government’s billion for AI research.

Happy researchers: Alexander Refsum Jensenius (right), professor of music technology at the University of Oslo, will lead the new centre together with Ida Jahr, associate professor of English literature at the University of Inland Norway, and Daniel Nordgård, professor of music industry and digitalisation at the University of Agder. Photo: UiO.

“This is going to be fun,” says Alexander Refsum Jensenius, professor of music technology and the new director of MishMash Centre for AI and Creativity.

MishMash is one of six new national research centres for artificial intelligence (AI). The grant is part of the government’s AI billion.

“The goal is to create a lively meeting place for exploring artificial intelligence where human meets machine, and where artistic and scientific research intersect,” he says.

The centre will pay particular attention to how the development of AI affects creativity and the creative professions.

“We will develop new AI models and test them in different creative practices, such as music, dance, literature, games and film. We will also use them in other settings where creative solutions are needed.”

Partners from across the country and from many sectors

Researchers from nearly all higher education institutions in Norway take part in the project, together with key organisations in society and many partners in the private sector.

“Many of the largest cultural institutions are on board, and so are a number of companies and industry organisations. Among them is the National Library, which looks after the whole of Norway’s creative heritage,” says Jensenius.

He presented the centre together with Hege Stensrud Høsøien, head of the research division at the National Library of Norway.

“We see that AI is being taken into use in creative ways, and in ways that are decisive for how society develops. At the same time, we see a cultural heritage and a cultural life under pressure. We look forward to working with researchers and industry in the new centre MishMash to find ways of preserving and using our cultural heritage,” says Høsøien.

MishMash will bring together a large group working across disciplines and sectors: researchers and practitioners in the arts, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, design and engineering.

Two centres come to the University of Oslo

Two of the centres go to the University of Oslo. The centre TRUST, the Norwegian Centre for Trustworthy AI, will be led by Professor Arnoldo Frigessi, with the Faculty of Humanities as a partner.

“This is a day of joy,” says Frode Helland, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities.

“One of the new centres will be led from our faculty, and we are a major partner in another. This shows the strength of the humanities, and their ability to address the great challenges we face as societies and individuals,” he says.

Leaders of two new centres: Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre congratulates the new centre directors Alexander Refsum Jensenius (left) and Arnoldo Frigessi. Photo: UiO / Lars Ankervold.

This is a translation of the press release from the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Oslo, published on 11 June 2025.