Artificial Intelligence: Serbia’s efforts to improve its position as an Innovator
As one of the pillars of the fourth industrial revolution, Artificial Intelligence Serbia has seen significant advancements in recent years. While its development began relatively recently, there has been a rapid expansion of its application, especially in the fields of health, finance, energy, etc.
The AI, as a branch of computer science and engineering that relates to the creation of systems that are capable of performing numerous tasks, is rapidly developing, and in such an era of digitalization, Serbia wants to improve and strengthen its position as an innovator. In order to develop and apply AI technology, primarily in the performance of public administration bodies, but also research work in the academic community, as well as to help start-up companies, the Government of the Republic of Serbia provided the National Platform for Artificial Intelligence (VI platform), while the development itself is defined by the goals and measures of the Strategy for the Development of Artificial Intelligence in the Republic of Serbia for the period 2020-2025. The VI platform or supercomputer has been acquired and is available to the entire academic community and domestic startup companies for free to develop their ideas and products based on AI. In addition, the State Data Center in the city of Kragujevac, which stores the data of state institutions and is one of only eight facilities in Europe with a Tier 4 reliability level, was presented at the 66th International Technical Fair.
Legislation
The infrastructure is in place for the development of AI, however from a legislative point of view, it seems that more time is necessary in order to pass a suitable law that would properly regulate such an important digitalization process. The complexity of such a law is supported by the fact that only recently on March 13, the European Parliament adopted the first Law on Artificial Intelligence in the world, with its goal to protect democracy, the rule of law and environmental sustainability from high-risk. A statement from the European Parliament states that the regulation establishes obligations for AI and is based on potential risks and levels of impact. The implementation of this law is expected next year.
Considering above stated, it is too early to say in which direction the regulation of the Republic of Serbia will go, however it should be noted that the Government of the RS has adopted – Ethical Guidelines for the Development, Application and Use of Artificial Intelligence (Guidelines) along with the National Strategy for the Development of Artificial Intelligence (there are two: one for 2020-2025, and another for 2025-2030, also the Strategy/s). The first one laid the foundations and paved the way for the development of AI in several areas, with the second following up due to the rapid changes brought by the AI in all aspects of the development of the economy and society. Also, the Government of the RS made a decision on the establishment of the Council for AI, whose task will be to monitor the implementation of planned measures and activities, to monitor the state needs and standards of the development and application of AI in the Republic of Serbia. The council will have an advisory role and prepare proposals, recommendations and standards, give opinions and expert explanations on all issues in the field of development and application of AI in the Republic of Serbia and will organize and monitor the drafting of laws and by-laws related to the development and application of AI.
The laws governing the areas related to the Strategies are:
- Personal Data Protection Act,
- Law on the Basics of the Education System,
- Law on Dual Education,
- Law on Higher Education,
- Law on Science and Research,
- Law on Innovative activity,
- Law on the Fund for Science,
- Law on Information Security.
In the absence of a stronger legal framework that is taking its first shape in the European Union, the Guidelines and Strategies enable further development in this area, the expansion of which is still expected. Guided by the principles of these documents it is emphasized that AI should be used for the benefit of the whole community.