TEHRAN –Isfahan Artificial Intelligence (IAI) Event is scheduled to be held from October 23 to 25, bringing together faculty members, academicians, experts, and students to discuss the latest developments in the field of AI, ISNA reported.

The main theme of the gathering will be the development of cross-border activities, including research, technological, and economic activities.

Holding meetings of artificial intelligence experts and specialists, and organizing exhibitions, investment events, and competitions will be the four main parts of the IAI 2024. 

The event will feature the attendance and presentation of experts, professors, and influential international businesses.

It will also provide an opportunity for sharing and presenting the capacities and latest capabilities of the best national and international knowledge-based companies in the field of artificial intelligence.

The competitions serve as a platform for providing innovative solutions based on data and artificial intelligence tools.

One of the main goals of this gathering is to improve the quantitative and qualitative level of the economy based on artificial intelligence which will consequently develop the artificial intelligence ecosystem in the country through fostering international businesses and the internationalization of the capacities and capabilities of individuals and companies.

Iran to become a leading country in AI

In January 2022, Shahram Moein, head of the innovation and development center of artificial intelligence at the Research Institute of Information and Communication Technology, said, “Iran will be placed among the top 10 countries in artificial intelligence (AI) by 2032 based on the national document on artificial intelligence strategy.”

The study of the national artificial intelligence development roadmap started two years ago at the Research Institute of Information and Communication Technology and was officially completed by the end of November 2021.

According to a report released by the Web of Science database, Iran ranks first for the highest number of documents in artificial intelligence (AI) among Islamic countries.

The country issued 2,638 AI documents between 2013 and 2022.

Saudi Arabia (2,465) and Turkey (2,303) were ranked second and third, respectively, IRIB reported.

National AI center

On July 10, the National Artificial Intelligence Center was inaugurated.

Creating a complete and stable chain of ideas to market in AI, benefiting from AI for the economic progress of the country, planning to achieve a leading and sustainable position among the countries of the world, as well as identifying and nurturing talents in the field of AI are among the most important tasks of the national AI center, IRNA reported.

By allocating 50 trillion rials (some $100 million), the public and the private sector will develop the infrastructure for artificial intelligence operators in the next calendar year, which starts on March 21.

"Iran ranks 17th in artificial intelligence in terms of scientific production and publication of articles in the world, while ranks 78th in terms of its application in the world,” Rouhollah Dehqani-Firouzabadi, the then Vice President for Science, Technology and Knowledge-based Economy, said.

The importance of artificial intelligence cannot be denied. However, it’s hard to keep pace with the rapid [global] growth in the area, he added, IRNA reported.

He made the remarks while attending the first meeting of the national steering committee’s working group on artificial intelligence.

The main objective behind founding the national steering committee is to promote and develop AI in the country with the help of both the private sector and the public sector, he added.

Dehqani-Firouzabadi went on to say that the national committee is not seeking to hold a share in management. It aims to facilitate and coordinate the development of AI by developing a streamlined, dynamic, and synergetic structure. It also endeavors to pave the way for individuals to participate in the development of artificial intelligence.

Plans to develop AI

The Vice Presidency has prepared three comprehensive plans to develop artificial intelligence in different sectors.

Currently, artificial intelligence is the first priority for the development of technology and is pursued with three programs, IRNA quoted Firouzabadi as saying

Artificial intelligence is a comprehensive technology and affects all other areas of technology, he highlighted.

“The plans in the field of artificial intelligence include scientific development programs that are mostly pursued in universities. The second plan is technology development programs that are pursued in companies that work in the field of artificial intelligence. And the third plan is the creation of a national technology hub in the field of artificial intelligence."

Best universities in AI

Edurank, a global source for social media analytics in the education sector, has ranked 100 Iranian universities among the best universities worldwide for Artificial Intelligence (AI) based on their research performance.

A graph of 252 million citations received by 13.4 million academic papers made by 5,743 universities in the world was used to calculate ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

The University of Tehran, ranking 56 in Asia and 201 in the world, is the top university in the country.

Amirkabir University of Technology (ranking 70 in Asia, and 266 globally), and Iran University of Science and Technology (ranking 83 in Asia, and 318 in the world) are placed second and third, respectively.

Based on Edurank, the University of Tehran is also placed first for AI among Islamic nations.

University of Technology Malaysia (ranking 306 in the world), and Istanbul Technical University (ranking 375 globally) are ranked second and third.

In Edurank 2024, Stanford University, University of California Berkeley, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology grabbed first to third place in the world, respectively.

MT/MG