The Republic of Srpska

“We must keep pace with the development of artificial intelligence because we are aware of the extent to which the internet can be misused, particularly when it comes to children,” said the Republic of Srpska Minister of the Interior, Mr Željko Budimir at the international symposium “Artificial intelligence – challenges and threats in cyber protection”, held today in Banja Luka.

Minister Budimir stated that artificial intelligence can have significant application and provide assistance in numerous areas, particularly in technical and natural sciences, but also warned of the processes of dehumanization that rapid technological development may bring.

He stated that the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Srpska plans to use certain computer systems based on artificial intelligence that are expected to assist employees in carrying out their duties.

The symposium highlighted that technical measures alone are not sufficient for cyber protection and that more attention needs to be devoted to education and raising awareness among all stakeholders – from regulators and technical experts to end users.

Minister for Scientific and Technological Development and Higher Education of the Republic of Srpska, Mr Draga Mastilović said that artificial intelligence is becoming part of everyday life in all areas of activity and that it is essential to keep pace with technological developments and the achievements of the world’s most advanced countries.

Chair of the Symposium Organizing Committee, Professor Dragan Korać, warned that actions in the digital world can also have an impact on the physical world, citing smart household devices as an example, as attackers can take control of them by exploiting system vulnerabilities or human carelessness.

Rector of the University of Banja Luka, Mr Ranko Škrbić emphasized the importance of holding the symposium, which is attended by prominent experts from the Republic of Srpska and the region in the fields of modern technologies and artificial intelligence.

The international symposium “Artificial intelligence – challenges and threats in cyber protection” is organized by the Academy of Sciences and Arts of the Republic of Srpska, the University of Banja Luka and the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics of the University of Banja Luka.