Presidential Forum on Artificial Intelligence

The forum opened in a rather unusual way, as participants were first addressed by the President through a video message that turned out to be a deepfake featuring a convincing voice and image of the President. The deepfake was created for the event by Vid Klopčič from the Laboratory for Computer Graphics and Multimedia at the UL Faculty of Computer and Information Science. Naturally, this was done with the consent of the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar, who then addressed the participants in person and highlighted the importance of investing in AI and introducing appropriate AI-related education in schools. 

The forum’s special rapporteur was Assistant Professor Dr Vida Groznik, who immediately after the President’s address presented the programme of the event and moderated the opening panel on the state of AI in Slovenia and around the world. Professor Dr Danijel Skočaj, as the first panellist, presented in detail the potential of AI and examples of successful AI solutions. During the discussion, Professor Dr Marko Robnik Šikonja drew attention to the importance of sufficient and stable funding for ensuring the high-quality and long-term work of research groups.

Professor Dr Blaž Zupan participated in the panel on education and pointed out the complete absence of data and algorithmic literacy content at all levels of education. Associate Professor Dr Andrej Brodnik also joined the discussion, highlighting that Slovenia is one of the very few countries without computer science included in the school curriculum. Following the presentations, President Nataša Pirc Musar expressed serious concern and clearly stated that these topics would need to be introduced into education as soon as possible.

Professor Dr Dan Podjed, a researcher at the Institute for Innovation and Development of the University of Ljubljana, participated in the panel on safeguards and responsibility in the use of AI. He emphasised the importance of preserving humanity and advocated an active approach in which AI should primarily serve as a tool for the benefit of people.

At the conclusion of the event, the special rapporteur, Assistant Professor Dr Vida Groznik, summarised the discussion and presented recommendations that will later be available in the form of a more extensive report. Following the forum, President Nataša Pirc Musar presented the Golden Order of Merit to Academician Professor Dr Ivan Bratko for his pioneering work in the field of artificial intelligence.