AI Gaining Ground in Iraq and Jordan

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is fast catching up the attention of the governments, not only in the GCC region, but in the neighbouring countries such as Iraq and Jordan as well.

The Information and Communications Technology Association of Jordan (int@j) held the inaugural meeting of the “AI Enthusiasts of Jordan” (AI-EJO) initiative in Jordan while Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed S Al-Sudani chaired the first meeting of the Higher Committee for Artificial Intelligence today, where the Iraqi National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence was reviewed the meeting focused on key aspects, projects, and applications that the government will support in this field.

The AI-EJO initiative aims to strengthen the AI ecosystem in Jordan by building a community of AI professionals, enthusiasts, academics, and students. The meeting saw participation from a diverse group of individuals interested in AI from various sectors.

The AI-JEO meeting began with an introduction to the initiative and its primary objectives, which included educational outreach to provide a foundational understanding of AI technologies to members and the broader community, knowledge exchange by facilitating the sharing of the latest AI research trends and industry applications among members; skill development through offering a space for members to develop practical AI skills through peer-to-peer learning and mentorship among others.

int@j Chairman Amjad Swais emphasised the importance of this initiative in enhancing local capabilities and deepening the understanding of artificial intelligence technologies. He also all interested individuals in Jordan to join the initiative’s dedicated group on LinkedIn, where they can continuously interact, share ideas, and stay updated on the latest developments.

AI in Iraq

In Iraq, the Prime Minister stressed on the need for state ministries and institutions to incorporate AI-related projects and legislation was discussed this includes integrating AI into educational curricula, establishing the first AI-powered educational platform, and developing smart applications currently being implemented across various ministries and developmental sectors.

The Prime Minister highlighted the government’s digital transformation efforts in shaping a general policy without overstepping the role of governmental entities and emphasised that adopting this approach is a priority for the government to support its economic reform initiatives, particularly in using AI applications within the technological revolution and across various life sectors.

Prime Minister Al-Sudani further noted that Iraq has led the region in introducing AI studies into academic curricula at Iraqi universities.

He stressed the importance of learning from the experiences of advanced countries in enacting information security and ethical oversight legislation in technology security this is especially crucial as terrorism continues to exploit technology and cyberspace for criminal activities and recruitment, as well as employing AI to diversify Iraq’s economy, particularly in non-oil sectors.

The Prime Minister also underscored the need to harness the potential of young talent and promising energies across Iraq to protect them from being exploited by criminal gangs, extremism, and terrorism.

He emphasised focusing on the youth training program, which will extend to the provinces through robotics and AI clubs affiliated with the Higher Youth Council to embed the concepts of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.