Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant future – it is here and is changing the way we work, do business, and govern the state. Slovakia is therefore preparing a national AI strategy that will bring benefits to the whole country while sensibly managing risks. The document is being created in a participatory manner and will be linked to legislation and European rules so that it has a real impact.
Why Slovakia needs an AI strategy
While no regulation requires us to have an AI strategy, international assessments of countries track it—whether it exists, whether it is up to date, and how it was developed. AI is a topic as fundamental as electricity once was: it will cease to be "hype" but will remain an omnipresent infrastructure with benefits as well as risks. Therefore we cannot wait; along with the strategy, a national AI Act and European data regulation are being submitted, with the aim of entering into force from the beginning of next year.
The document is being prepared in cooperation with the AI Slovakia team, the Office of the Government Plenipotentiary for AI, and the ministry of informatization. Approximately 73 experts from business, academia, and public administration contributed to the initial inputs; the current version lists 13 co-authors and processes 23 sets of comments. After consolidation, the text will go to interdepartmental commenting, language editing, and to the Government Council for Digital Transformation and AI, so that the government can consider it by the end of August.
A strategy for a world of uncertainty: principles and rules
The future of technology is unclear, so the strategy works with scenarios. The so-called transformation scenarios assume that some steps will succeed and others may not, and can offer alternatives. The aim is to prioritize the most beneficial scenarios for the economy and society and, if necessary, opt for simpler solutions so that progress does not stall.
Key principles include demand-driven research and innovation—investments should be tied to the real needs of companies or public administration. For low- to medium-risk AI, the lightest possible regulatory touch should apply, so that we do not stifle startups or small-scale solutions. The focus is on changing processes, not just deploying technology, which will also require legislative adjustments, for example in the Administrative Procedure Code to define an "automated act" and its reviewability. Such transformation cannot proceed without political backing and change management in companies as well as public offices.
Where AI will deliver value and what it is built on
The foundations are systemic prerequisites: availability of technologies, security, and work with data, including sovereignty. In addition to large language models, the strategy also counts on traditional machine learning and narrow neural networks, which suffice in many sectors, are less risky, and reduce dependence on overseas players. Slovakia is a good testbed for pilots—we have a diverse industry, short distances, and fast connections between stakeholders.
Deployment will focus on three areas: the economy, public administration, and healthcare. Each chapter has the same structure—starting points, target state, transformation scenarios, and governance principles—from which 10 programs and roughly 50 to 60 projects or measures have been derived. It is a mix of investments, calls, and legislative changes that can be directly implemented and financed, also in line with the national Digital Decade plan.
