Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, Armenia’s Minister of High-Tech Industry, was interviewed by Apolitical’s “Government AI Campus” initiative. This platform publishes interviews with policymakers from countries playing leading roles in AI implementation, capacity building, and regulatory processes.
The Minister presented Armenia's vision for creating a competitive, responsible, and inclusive AI ecosystem. He noted that Armenia aims to make AI a crucial driver of economic growth, the modernization of state governance, and the improvement of public service quality. To achieve this, it is necessary to develop digital infrastructure, expand access to computational resources, promote AI literacy, and train a new generation of specialists.
One of the key messages of the interview was AI literacy, which, according to the Minister, should become a national priority. Technological infrastructure alone is not enough. It is essential for civil servants, private sector representatives, participants in the education system, and citizens to acquire knowledge and skills to use AI tools effectively and responsibly.
Mkhitar Hayrapetyan addressed the opportunities for AI application in the field of public administration. It can increase the efficiency of the governance system, improve the quality of public services, detect fraud, and contribute to data-driven decision-making.
At the same time, the Minister emphasized the management of risks associated with AI application. This technology can scale not only efficiency but also errors. Bias, personal data protection risks, cybersecurity challenges, dependence on generated content, and a lack of transparency can negatively impact public trust. For this reason, in all areas of state governance, including healthcare, it is necessary to adhere to the principles of ethics, human rights protection, accountability, and effective oversight.
The Minister stressed that AI should assist humans in making more effective decisions, rather than replacing them. Ensuring equal access to AI capabilities was also highlighted. Armenia is developing a comprehensive ecosystem that combines world-class infrastructure, accessible computational resources, education, and broad engagement.
Speaking about the impact of technology, Mkhitar Hayrapetyan noted that AI will expand human creative potential. Digital solutions and automation will allow people to spend less time on routine technical and bureaucratic tasks, focusing more on creativity, innovation, critical thinking, and decisions requiring human judgment.
