At the conference, Pikalo presented the key challenges in the introduction of AI tools in education processes, and Slovenia's activities and achievements in the development of AI analytical tools and open educational resources.

According to Thursday's press release from the ministry, he noted that Slovenia had hosted in 2017 a congress on open educational resources, at which an action plan envisaging further development in the field had been adopted.

The action plans also serves as a basis in the process of adopting the recommendations by UNESCO on open educational resources, in which Slovenia plays a leading international role, the ministry added.

It stressed that Pikalo's participation in the conference was of great importance in the light of the ministry's initiative to establish a UNESCO-sponsored international research centre for AI in Ljubljana.

The minister said that AI, as one of the most strategic technologies of the 21st century, could facilitate new methods of teaching and learning and encourage people to get involved in lifelong learning processes.

Pikalo noted that research in the field of AI had been conducted in Slovenia since 1972, adding that more than 300 Slovenian researchers were currently active in the field.

This puts Slovenia among the leading countries, he said, adding that Slovenian research organisations and universities were connected and actively cooperated with all major AI research centres.

Pikalo also presented the planned AI centre in Slovenia, saying that an open and inclusive network of international AI research centres would be established as part of it, connecting scientists from this field.

"We are convinced that it is necessary to provide an open, transparent and inclusive environment for the development of artificial intelligence," the ministry also quoted Pikalo.