With the rapid development of AI in recent years, many countries have sought to harness the technology for governance and public administration.
In line with this trend, Iran has introduced a project called “AI Assistant of the Government Cabinet” in cooperation with universities and executive organizations. The project is designed to streamline administrative processes, enhance service quality, and support more effective decision-making.
The AI assistants will be used in ministries and executive agencies to analyze data, optimize procedures, and improve managerial decisions. Hossein Afshin, Vice President for Knowledge-Based Economy, Science, and Technology, stressed: “Access to the data of all executive bodies is essential for the success of the national AI assistant program, as data forms the foundation for analysis, decision-making, and policy-making.”
In its first phase, the AI assistants will be deployed across ten ministries and agencies, including:
Health and Medical Education
Economy and Finance
Industry, Mining, and Trade
Cultural Heritage and Tourism
Communications and Information Technology
Oil
Agriculture (Jihad-e-Keshavarzi)
Roads and Urban Development
Energy
Department of Environment
According to Afshin, 13 to 14 universities have been selected to contribute to the project, each presenting proposals based on their research expertise.
He also noted that all AI-related data and information will be stored on Iran’s national AI platform — an indigenous system designed to ensure secure and sustainable data processing and analysis.
Afshin acknowledged that while AI assistants bring clear benefits, they also face challenges:
Data access: Some organizations restrict access due to security or structural concerns.
Continuous updating: AI assistants must be regularly updated in line with new laws, regulations, and directives.
Training and awareness: Users need proper education to work effectively with AI assistants.
