VP says Iran eyes pioneering AI in region within three years
First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref said on Tuesday that Iran must overcome delays in adopting emerging technologies and secure the top regional position in Artificial Intelligence (AI) within three years.
Speaking at a meeting of the National Committee for the Development and Application of Artificial Intelligence, Aref said the country must set clear priorities and policies in AI, while ensuring that ethics, security, privacy and decentralization remain central to its strategy, fvpresident.ir reported.
“The country’s pace in advanced technologies must increase several times over the current situation. Our goal is to achieve the targets of the 20-year national vision plan in emerging technologies, which means we should reach the number one position in the region within three years,” he said.
Aref acknowledged that Iran has fallen behind schedule in applying emerging technologies across various sectors, calling for stronger focus on putting them into practice.
He added that Iran has significant potential in the field, with a pool of educated and motivated youth. “We must give them the space to drive the country toward progress,” he said.
The vice president urged the full use of universities and research centers, saying the nation’s scientific capacity must be directed toward addressing people’s needs. “Our nation is grateful, and we must ensure that emerging technologies serve the welfare of the people,” he added.
At the meeting, Aref urged faster coordination among government bodies on AI policy and called for clear rules on data sharing to support national platforms.