AI's Global Impact and Armenia's Vision: Mkhitar Hayrapetyan at the "Yerevan Dialogue" Panel Discussion

On September 11, Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, Minister of High-Tech Industry of the Republic of Armenia, participated in the panel discussion titled “Artificial Intelligence: A Kick-Off for Emerging Markets” as part of the “Yerevan Dialogue” international conference.

In his remarks, the Minister highlighted key discussions on AI, emphasizing the challenges and opportunities it presents in a rapidly evolving world.

“When referring to artificial intelligence, it’s worth recalling the old saying that a coin has two sides. On one side, AI offers us myriad opportunities and solutions across all sectors of the economy, improving our lives. On the other side, it presents various risks and challenges,” - the Minister said.

Regarding the risks, the Minister addressed the dangers and severe consequences of the militarization of artificial intelligence and emphasized the importance of preventing them. I also discussed the risk of monopolization in the sector and presented the collaborative work between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and international partners in addressing these concerns. He further highlighted the Government’s efforts to maximize AI’s potential and advance the industry.

Summing up his remarks, the Minister reaffirmed that the Republic of Armenia is not only striving to be an active participant in those processes but also aims to carve out its own place in the AI development field. Armenia should focus on developing regulations for the application of AI without hindering technological progress.

The panel discussion featured prominent speakers, including Rohit Bansal, Group Leader at Reliance Industries Limited (India); Anush Ghambaryan, Vice President of Engineering and Operations at Picsart (Armenia); Hoda Al-Khzaimi, Founder and Director of EMARATSEC Acceleration Center for Emerging Technologies and Advanced Research, and Vice-Chancellor for Research Translation and Innovation at New York University Abu Dhabi; Mallory Knodel, PhD, Founder and Executive Director of the Social Web Foundation, and associated with the New York School of Mathematical and Computer Science (USA); and Sheila Paylan, the panel moderator and Senior Consultant at UN Human Rights.

The discussion was followed by brief networking meetings, where participants and guests had the opportunity to engage with the Minister, ask questions, and discuss key concerns.

The "Yerevan Dialogue" international conference is being held in Armenia for the first time. It seeks to unite politicians, scientists, the private sector, and civil society to address global issues, including conflicts, technology, climate change, and healthcare. High-ranking officials, experts, scientists, and guests from around the world are participating in the event.