Informatisation Ministry Presents Its AI Vision for Slovakia

Bratislava, 20 December (TASR) - A vision of artificial intelligence (AI) for Slovakia will help to implement AI not only in public administration processes but also in businesses and broader society with the aim of achieving digital sovereignty, Government Proxy for AI and Investment, Regional Development and Informatisation Ministry State Secretary Radoslav Stefanek said at a press conference earlier this week alongside experts from the academic and expert communities. According to him, the ministry has come up with a clear plan based on a model of shared responsibility and effective inter-ministerial cooperation. The state secretary went on to say that the goal of the AI vision for Slovakia is to enforce three key principles, which require ensuring that public resources are invested in mutually compatible solutions that meet uniform technical and security standards. Stefanek emphasised that the Informatisation Ministry wants to focus on removing barriers. It is essential to modernise legislation so that data is shared securely and legally. Consolidated data is a prerequisite for the functioning of modern artificial intelligence in the service of the state and business. The AI vision consists of six pillars that cover the whole of society, from infrastructure and the economy to education. "My ambition was to propose a clear vision in the field of artificial intelligence that Slovakia will pursue at all levels. Artificial intelligence is a fantastic tool and a great helper if used correctly and within ethical standards. We recognise not only its potential, but also the challenges related to security and side effects that its use in practice brings. The Slovak Republic's strength lies in energy. We can transform our carbon-free mix into computational sovereignty by building an ecosystem of 'AI Factories'. In the area of public administration, we're introducing the concept of a sovereign adaptation layer," said Stefanek. "In practice, this means that we'll use the best global models and teach them the Slovak language and legislation using our secure data. The third pillar concerns the economy. We're an industrial country, and if our factories don't catch up with the advent of industrial AI and robotics, we'll lose our competitiveness. Therefore, the state must support companies that will implement automation," added the government proxy for AI. am/df/ko