INSAI

Iraqi National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence

National Strategy for AI and Big Data Integration in Iraq:

This website is currently under the development for establishing the Iraqi  National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence (INSAIN). The Iraqi Artificial Intelligence (AI) Group for Prime Minister’s Office has commenced this strategy alongside multiple ministries in Iraq. The approach in itself is an ‘Agile Approach’ that involves end-users (government, private and public sectors) in the whole development process. 

Iraq’s national strategy for AI and Big Data comprises maximising the impact/benefits of big data for Iraqi citizens that in turn contribute to building the strategy. Iraq’s vision for citizens and technology is a two way exchange where citizens contribute to and benefit from technology and economy. Iraq’s future will be based on knowledge economy and income equalities in which Iraqi individuals are at the heart of the economy.

Knowledge economy encompasses building the national capability through AI research and real-world applications that starts from school levels and up to higher education. The AI strategy focus on fulfilling and integrating within the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in various sectors such as healthcare, environment, safety and security, and education. Thus, the strategy outlines objectives specific to healthcare, water, food, environmental protection, agriculture, and tourism.

Iraq aims to improve its economy by integrating AI into healthcare to enhance diagnostics, treatment, and energy efficiency, as well as implementing precision farming techniques and improving tourism through AI-powered innovation. This strategy relies on a strong commitment to data governance and monitoring to promote responsible AI technology development and deployment.

Investing in workforce and education development are also crucial to maintaining national AI capability. The establishment of AI academic and training courses at technical and university institutes and universities helps to cultivate an experienced talent pool. To prepare the future generation, this initiative must include upskilling of current professionals as well as introducing AI concepts into primary and secondary schools. This synergy of research, education and industry collaboration will lay the foundations for an ecosystem which not only implements AI technology but ensures its ethical and responsible usage.

Advancing knowledge roots to form a better future for everyone and everything everywhere

Vision

The Iraqi AI team was established in 2023 to utilise and implement AI for the benefits of everyone and everything everywhere in Iraq and beyond. The strategy envisions to exploit AI for improving making the world a better place in terms of healthcare, environment and safety and security. The strategy implicates key pillars and stakeholders as key players in its development. This envisioned by involving industry, researchers, practitioners and the public in generating, interpreting and analysing real world data that is generated in an ethical and sustainable way. Thus, the four key elements (4Es) of the vision include:

  • Engage all stakeholder in generating real-world data
  • Endorse real-world datasets by experts against the laws and regulations for fairness, inclusivity and transparency
  • Explore advanced AI technologies to analyse real world data
  • Evolve the current systems to more beneficial and transparent systems

Priority Sector

Education
Education
  • Upskilling and reskilling our students in AI to equip them to be future leaders.
  • Enhancing AI literacy among members of society.
  • Launching AI institutes and research centres in public universities.
  • Boost AI research in diverse fields.
Medicine
Medicine
  • Helping improve patient quality of life and extend it.
  • Offer quick disease diagnosis and early diagnosis
  • Empower patients to self-manage their conditions
  • Use advanced medical technology that is cost-effective, accurate and environmental friendly
Energy
Energy
  • Increase penalties on unclean energy sources
  • Generate clean energy from sustainable sources
  • Optimise energy consumption to reduce carbon footprint
Water and Environment
Water and Environment
  • Intelligent barriers and
  • Water quality
  • Managing Iraq reservoirs to avoid draughts and floods
Agriculture
Agriculture
  • Preserve water resources to support in smart agriculture
  • Implement smart sensors for air and water quality that are essential for crop quality
  • Make modifications in agriculture based on evidence-based data

Other Sectors

Mobility
Mobility
  • Operate big data and evidence-based data in managing and controlling traffic.
  • Advance public transport to ensure more efficient transport

Security
Security
  • Using autonomous systems to ensure security and safety of citizens.
  • Monitoring and protecting AI products from threats.

Construction
Construction
  • Prevent risk mitigation and cost overruns.
  • Better design of buildings through generative design.
  • Project planning.
  • AI for Construction safety.
Data
Data
  • Data is at the forefront of industry 4.0
  • Ensuring data integrity, authenticity and safety guarantees accurate and beneficial AI models
  • Deploy big data in major decisions
Tourism
Tourism
  • Travel reservation: help travellers plan trips, book flights.
  • Improve personalization, tailor recommendations, and guarantee fast response times.
  •  Improve customer services, providing customers with better experiences and more efficiency.

We find ourselves in an era marked by remarkable scientific advancements, cutting-edge technology, and boundless opportunities for growth. The emergence of groundbreaking technologies like Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things holds the potential to alleviate numerous challenges and usher in substantial advantages for our world when harnessed to their fullest potential.

Objectives

A strategic, comprehensive approach is required to build national capabilities of AI. Key steps for enhancing national AI capabilities:

1. Establishing dedicated AI Research and Development Centres around the country. These centres will serve as hubs for cutting-edge research, innovation, and collaboration between academia, industry, and government.

2. Promoting Educational and Skills' Development to cultivate a skilled workforce proficient in AI. This includes incorporating AI courses into academic curricula, providing specialised training programs, and fostering a culture of continuous learning in the workforce.

5. Developing a Transparent Regulatory Framework that encourages responsible and ethical AI implementation. In this respect, regulations should provide guidelines for data privacy, security, and transparency, fostering a conducive environment for innovation while ensuring ethical considerations are met.

6. Actively participating in the global AI community by engaging in international collaborations, conferences, and partnerships. This helps in exchanging knowledge, staying updated on advancements, and fostering a global perspective on AI development.

3. Encouraging Public-Private Partnerships by fostering collaboration between the government, private sector, and research institutions. Public-private partnerships accelerates the development and application of AI technologies.

4. Investing in AI Startups and Innovation Hubs by providing financial support and incentives for AI startups through grants, funding, and incubation programs.

7. Encouraging Open Data Initiatives by facilitating the availability of datasets for AI research and development, and providing the public with access to diverse and quality datasets that is crucial for training robust AI models and fostering innovation.

8. Supporting AI Infrastructure by investing in the necessary infrastructure, including high-performance computing resources, cloud computing capabilities, and advanced data storage systems, to facilitate the development and deployment of AI applications at scale.

9. Continuous Monitoring and Evaluation of AI initiatives that help in refining strategies, addressing challenges, and ensuring that national capabilities in AI are aligned with emerging trends and technologies.

Targets

Development of skilled AI workforce: The Iraqi national technological strategy cannot be successful without a trained AI workforce. Specialised training is the key to achieving this. To harness the power of AI, it’s important to provide individuals with the necessary knowledge and skills to contribute and navigate this field that is rapidly changing. To achieve this goal, Iraqi officials should work with education institutions, business leaders and training providers in designing comprehensive programs to cater to various skill levels. A variety of AI disciplines should be included in specialized training programs, such as machine learning, natural-language processing, data science, and computer vision. The programs are designed for professionals with different backgrounds and encourage cross-disciplinary cooperation. Practical, hands-on training is a must, as it allows participants to learn AI in real life projects and gain a deeper understanding. Incorporating ethical concerns and responsible AI into the curriculum will ensure that workers are not only technical experts but also aware of the impact their work has on society. By investing in training initiatives for AI, the country will be able to cultivate a skilled pool of AI professionals who can drive innovation and implement AI across all sectors. They’ll also contribute to the economic growth of the nation. The approach is not only addressing the demand for AI experts, but it also creates the foundation for a dynamic and sustainable AI ecosystem.

Developing national data infrastructure: A robust Iraqi data infrastructure, with standardized and secure protocols, is essential to the establishment of an intelligent decision-making national system via Iraqi national dashboard. To achieve this goal, the Iraqi government should prioritise developing a secure and central data repository, which consolidates data from different sectors and ensures interoperability. Data security, encryption and access control will protect sensitive information, while building trust between stakeholders. Standardised protocols are crucial to integrating data from various local sources into a dashboard at the national level. The implementation of industry-standard formats for data and protocols to communicate data facilitates data analysis and sharing. In addition, it is important to establish a framework for governing data sharing, storage, and collection practices. This will ensure compliance with ethical and privacy concerns. This robust data infrastructure powers the national dashboard which becomes a central platform for reporting and analytics in real time. Data visualisation can be used by the Iraqi government to get insights on key performance indicators and trends. The intelligent decision-making tool enables proactive government, facilitates policy formulation based on evidence, and improves overall public service efficiency. The dashboard’s regular updates and feedback systems ensure decision makers have the latest and most relevant information. This allows them to respond more quickly to changing challenges and opportunities. The integration of a standard and secure national data infrastructure will allow for an intelligent government that can make informed decisions to benefit its citizens.

Developing AI-powered healthcare: AI powered Iraqi healthcare systems will be a revolution in improving medical services across the nation. Iraqi healthcare sector when using artificial intelligence can improve diagnostic accuracy and speed, resulting in more precise and timely treatment plans. AI algorithms can analyse large datasets, including medical images, records of patients, and literature from the clinical field. This provides healthcare professionals with insights which can be used for early diagnosis, personalised treatment suggestions, and optimising healthcare delivery. The approach is not only a faster way to diagnose but it also leads to better and more tailored care for patients. The integration of AI into Iraqi healthcare sector also facilitates data sharing amongst healthcare institutions. This creates a collaborative environment that improves patient care overall and encourages medical research. AI interoperable systems enable the exchange of information about patients, their medical history, and outcomes from treatment between different healthcare providers. Interoperability allows for a more efficient coordination of healthcare, particularly when multiple doctors or facilities are involved. The anonymized and aggregated data can also be used for research, which allows the identification and analysis of patterns and trends in the medical field. A collaborative AI-powered network of healthcare providers not only improves patient care, but it also advances medical innovation and knowledge on a larger scale.

Developing an AI-optimised energy consumption: Artificial intelligence (AI), which can optimize energy production and consumption in Iraq, is at the heart of initiatives for sustainable development. AI-driven maintenance can revolutionize the way power infrastructures are managed in Iraq. AI algorithms can perform proactive maintenance by analysing historic data, tracking equipment performance real-time and predicting faults. This reduces downtime while increasing energy efficiency. The predictive approach minimizes costs, but it also increases the longevity and reliability of the critical infrastructure. This ensures a reliable and resilient supply of power for the country. Along with optimising existing energy systems and promoting AI applications, it is important to transition towards an energy landscape that is more environmentally friendly. AI has a key role to play in increasing the efficiency of energy storage and distribution. Machine-learning algorithms improve the accuracy of forecasting renewable energy outputs and allow for better integration with the grid. AI-driven technology can also optimize design and operations of renewable energy infrastructure such as wind and solar farms by adapting dynamic environmental conditions. Research initiatives that support this area not only promote technological innovation, but they also speed up the adoption of alternative energy sources. This leads to a cleaner and more sustainable future in the energy sector of Iraq.

Developing an AI-empowered water management: Artificial intelligence (AI), which monitors and manages water resources, is an important initiative for ensuring the sustainability of Iraq’s water management. AI technology is a powerful tool to maximize water conservation and usage. Population growth and climate change are increasing the pressure on water resources. AI-driven systems that monitor water can give authorities real-time information on infrastructure, consumption patterns and quality of the water. This allows them to take informed decisions. AI-based environmental analysis can help to improve conservation by improving our understanding of factors that influence water ecosystems. AI algorithms can process large datasets and incorporate information about climate, vegetation, and human activity in order to find patterns and trends. With this powerful analytical tool, the authorities can develop strategies that will conserve water, optimize irrigation, and implement policies. AI is also able to detect water leaks and contamination, as well as illegal water withdrawals. This allows for rapid response and helps protect Iraq’s water resources. In a comprehensive strategy for water management of Iraq, AI integration not only improves efficiency and operational effectiveness but promotes an approach that is more sustainable and resilient to the management of water resources. Iraq could make great strides towards a sustainable and reliable water supply by leveraging the technology available to monitor, analyse, and conserve its water resources.

Developing an AI-driven precision agriculture: Introduction of precision agriculture with artificial intelligence integration (AI) is a transformational approach for optimizing resource usage in Iraq’s sector. Precision farming uses advanced technologies including artificial intelligence to optimize the use of resources like water, pesticides, and fertilisers. AI-driven systems analyse large datasets including weather patterns and crop history to give farmers precise information for making decisions. It is crucial to improve agricultural productivity by developing AI-powered tools that monitor crops, control pests, and predict yields. AI algorithms can process data in real time from satellites and sensors. This allows farmers monitor the health of their crops and identify potential problems at an early phase. The models can assess the risks of disease and pest outbreaks, which allows for more targeted treatments and reduces the use of chemical treatment. AI-driven models for yield predictions provide accurate estimates, which allows farmers to improve crop management and harvest planning. Iraq, by embracing AI and precision farming tools can increase resource efficiency while also promoting sustainable farming methods. This method allows farmers to take data-driven decision, improve agricultural productivity, and reduce the environmental impact. Integration of these technologies will contribute to Iraq’s economic growth, food security and environmental protection, putting it at the forefront in innovation.

Developing an AI-empowered tourism: The implementation of AI-powered, virtual tour guides is a revolutionary initiative that will elevate the tourism experience in Iraq. Artificial intelligence can be used to create immersive, personalized experiences for tourists. AI-driven tour guides provide interactive, rich narratives on historical landmarks, scenic attractions, and cultural landmarks. This allows tourists to explore Iraq’s rich heritage and history in a fun and engaging way. Visitors can interact with AI-driven guides through augmented and virtual reality, which bring historical events alive and offer in-depth insight, improving their understanding of and appreciation for the cultural tapestry. AI can also be used to create personalised promotions and recommendations that cater to each individual tourist’s preferences. AI algorithms can create customised itinerary suggestions by analysing past travel behaviours, demographics, and preferences. The personalised approach also extends into promotional activities, which allows businesses to provide targeted discounts and suggestions to improve the overall experience. It not only helps to create a stronger connection between the tourist and their destination, but it also encourages the local business and attraction. This is a great way to promote the Iraqi tourism industry. Iraq’s tourism industry can be positioned as modern, tech-savvy and a destination that attracts a wide range of tourists. It will also provide them with personalised, memorable experiences, which showcase its cultural and historic significance.

Media & Communication

Disclaimer: All the videos are from the web and for demonstration only.

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