AI Center Establishment in Latvia by End of March Announced
The Latvian government has taken a significant step towards the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) by passing a new law that establishes an AI ecosystem. This move aims to establish a center to coordinate AI development and innovation in the country.
The key objectives of the new center include fostering AI research, supporting business growth in AI, and ensuring alignment with European standards and regulations on trustworthy AI. The center will be responsible for implementing measures to mitigate the risks associated with the use of AI and for ensuring ethical, responsible, and safe use of AI systems.
The new center will be established as a foundation and will be composed of the Council, Director, and Secretariat, all of which will be managed by the State Digital Development Agency. The Council will consist of nine members, representing various sectors such as the State, Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development (VARAM), Ministry of Economics, Ministry of Defence, Latvian Association of Information and Communication Technologies, and Association of Latvian Universities.
The aim of the new center is to promote skills and equity in the field of AI. To achieve this, the center will collaborate with public-private and university partners, creating a legal framework that supports the responsible use and development of AI technologies.
The new law, passed by 73 MPs, establishes an AI ecosystem that will be operational from the day after its promulgation. Nine MPs from the For Stability! party voted against the new law.
The establishment of the center is timed to coincide with the rollout of the EU AI Act, a significant regulatory framework that Latvia’s law supports and complements. The EU AI Act provisions begin taking effect starting February 2025, with further enforcement by August 2025 and 2026. This alignment ensures that the Latvian center will be well-positioned to help manage compliance and promote ethical AI development within the EU regulatory context.
In conclusion, the new AI center in Latvia will play a crucial role in driving AI innovation, fostering research, and ensuring ethical AI development. By collaborating with various stakeholders, the center will contribute to the responsible use and development of AI technologies, ultimately promoting skills and equity in the field of AI.
[1] EU AI Act [2] Latvian Government Press Release
- The Latvian Government's new AI center, established as a foundation, will collaborate with public-private and university partners to create a legal framework that supports the responsible use and development of artificial-intelligence (AI) technologies, aligning with the EU AI Act.
- The key objectives of the Latvian Government's new AI center include fostering AI research, supporting business growth in AI, and promoting skills and equity in the field of AI, all with a focus on ensuring ethical, responsible, and safe use of AI systems, in line with European standards and regulations on trustworthy AI.
