Underlining Iran’s expertise at the international level, IRIB quoted Mohammad-Hossein Sheikhi, an official with the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, who stated, “It is not a typical administrative achievement.” He further highlighted Iran being given an opportunity to be at the forefront of designing the rules governing emerging technologies.
Iran’s participation in the development of a technical framework like LLMs reflect its active role country’s global technological advancement, while also protecting its national interests.
Highlighting Iran’s conscious transition from a technology consumer to an active and knowledgeable participant in the development of global rules, the official stated that it has solidified the country’s scientific authority in AI, while consolidating its position in the region and the world.
15 AI labs to be established at universities
The headquarters for the AI technology department has announced the establishment of 15 AI laboratories at universities across the country, to develop and test fundamental AI models as reference laboratories. “They will be based on scientific work, publications, and products, and will be proportional to the number of students and professors,” Mohammad-Hadi Zahedi, an official at the science ministry, stated. These launches will be done under the auspices of the Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology.
Mr. Zahedi further stated, “A specialized working group will be responsible for the development of educational courses with a focus on interdisciplinary training programs in AI.”
Mr. Zahedi highlighted AI privacy maintenance, data governance and regulatory compliance among issues that need consideration.
Hossein Afsin, a vice president of science and technology, underscored the improved ranking of the country from 33 to 30, placing the country among the top 50 leaders – as cited by the Nature Index. It highlights the country’s scientific production in Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Iran’s ranking in the region oscillates between 14 and 17, owing to its focus on quality, “We are optimistic to prove the country’s scientific position within the next two years”, as reported by an IRNA official. The official contuniued “The country is following up on developing AI infrastructure, including the AI platform and AI assistant in the near future.”
As per Oxford insights indexs report, Iran’s ranking has moved up from 94th in 2023 to 91st among 188 countries. The index measures the government’s readiness in implementing AI in public services.
AI is a key enabler, not only in governing technology but also in improving government platforms. The government AI Readiness Index has become a trusted resource for policymakers, adopted as an official benchmark by the national governments.
This year’s edition examines the AI readiness of 188 countries at a time of growing complexity, where governments face evolving citizen needs and challenges such as rising inequalities, economic uncertainty and climate risks.
Reference: https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/523861/ISO-accepts-Iran-s-proposal-on-developing-standards-for-AI-LLMs
