TEHRAN –The Vice President for Science, Technology, and Knowledge-Based Economy has announced that an exclusive artificial intelligence (AI) platform will be launched in the country in the near future.

“As planned, the artificial intelligence platform will offer three main services, namely a large processing farm, the size and dimension of which is under discussion; a large data center to generate data, as well as a large linguistic and photo library,” IRNA quoted Rouhollah Dehqani-Firouzabadi as saying.  

In line with the main responsibility of the Vice Presidency for Science, Technology, and Knowledge-Based Economy, which is fostering technological growth, the artificial intelligence development headquarters of the vice presidency aims to help universities, researchers, and knowledge-based companies develop technologies and apply artificial intelligence using AI platforms.

An AI ecosystem is projected to kick off in the country in the current Iranian year, ending March 2025, Dehqani-Firouzabadi said. "We will obtain hundreds of graphic processing units (GPUs)," he added.

The official stressed that after hours of consultation with experts in artificial intelligence and networks, "we came to the conclusion that a national center of artificial intelligence is needed in the country to carry out major tasks including supervision and regulation as well as the development of big infrastructure projects."

Moreover, there should be a council comprised of a leader and board of trustees to observe the center,’ he added.

Dehqani-Firouzabadi stated that the National Center for Artificial Intelligence was established in the last month of the past Iranian calendar year (March 2023 – March 2024), and its chairmanship was issued by President Ebrahim Raisi and the members of the steering council of the center were also introduced.

He went on to say that, efforts are underway to finalize the statutes of the National Center for Artificial Intelligence in the Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution.

Holding various meetings with influential parties in the field of artificial intelligence such as different investors, government organizations, and funds,  the research and technology development fund for artificial intelligence was also approved to be established, Dehqani-Firouzabadi further noted.

The fund is planned to start its activities with 100 trillion rials ( almost $182 million) which will be mainly provided by the National Development Fund. The fund will support the launch of the AI platform as its initial step.

Developing AI infrastructure

By allocating 50 trillion rials (some $100 million), the public and the private sector will develop the infrastructure for artificial intelligence operators in the current year.

The importance of artificial intelligence cannot be denied. However, it’s hard to keep pace with the rapid [global] growth in the area, Dehqani-Firouzabadi said in February, 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.

On December 3, 2023, President Ebrahim Raisi issued an executive order for the establishment of the 'National Steering Committee and the National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Center'.

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.

Plans to develop AI

The Vice Presidency has prepared three comprehensive plans to develop artificial intelligence in different sectors, Firouzabadi said in July 2023.

Currently, artificial intelligence is the 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."

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.

“To draft this document, strategic documents of 23 countries in the field of artificial intelligence were evaluated so that areas such as environment, health, transportation, online education, energy, robotics, industry, agriculture, and security development are among the priority areas of AI.

Among the goals of this document are 80 percent of research to meet the needs of the country, the use of 45 percent of artificial intelligence in industries, $8 billion investment in artificial intelligence, and a 12 percent share of AI in the GDP,” he explained.

AI potential for human development

In July 2023, the UN Secretary-General addressed the Security Council, emphasizing the potential of artificial intelligence to accelerate human development while also cautioning against the malicious use of what is revolutionary new technology.

António Guterres said that if AI became primarily a weapon to launch cyberattacks, generate deepfakes, or spread hate speech, it would have very serious consequences for global peace and security. “Look no further than social media.

Tools and platforms that were designed to enhance human connection are now used to undermine elections, spread conspiracy theories, and incite hatred and violence,” he said.

“Malfunctioning AI systems are another huge area of concern. And the interaction between AI and nuclear weapons, biotechnology, neurotechnology, and robotics, is deeply alarming.”

MT/MG