The Minister of Digital Transformation, Stefan Andonovski, is leading the Macedonian delegation at the Global Summit on Artificial Intelligence in Seoul, Republic of Korea. Addressing the Ministerial Meeting held as part of the Global Summit, Andonovski urged governments to ensure a baseline level of free access to useful artificial intelligence tools—specifically in areas such as education, skills development, and access to public services.
In his speech, Andonovski warned that artificial intelligence carries the risk of deepening the gap between wealthier nations and developing economies, as well as between citizens of different income levels.
"Countries with the resources to invest in advanced tools, computational capacity, and skills can accelerate their progress, while developing economies risk falling further behind. Talent exists in every nation, yet the opportunity to access artificial intelligence is not equal for everyone," emphasized Andonovski.
The Minister stressed that the accessibility of artificial intelligence must become a clear development priority, and he pointed to possible mechanisms such as shared computational resources, regional access, and national development programs.
In this context, Andonovski highlighted the significance of "Vezilka"—the Macedonian antenna linked to European artificial intelligence factories. Through this initiative, companies and public institutions gain access to European supercomputing resources and receive support for developing practical solutions; furthermore, it facilitates the creation of language models and datasets in the Macedonian language.
Addressing the issue of data sovereignty, the Minister noted that it entails the state's capacity to develop and expand its own digital solutions, protect citizens' information, and collaborate with international partners based on trust.
"The opportunity to harness the benefits of artificial intelligence must not depend on a nation's wealth or a family's income," concluded Andonovski.
On the sidelines of the summit, Minister Andonovski will also hold bilateral meetings with the Vice President of the World Bank, representatives from the Republic of Korea, and fellow ministers, to discuss deepening cooperation in the fields of digital transformation and artificial intelligence.
