Minister Drucker at AI Impact Summit in India: Education and Clear Strategy Are Key

Slovakia aims to become a European leader in the practical, responsible and systematic use of artificial intelligence. Education Minister Tomáš Drucker highlighted this ambition at the AI Impact Summit in India, where he accompanied President Peter Pellegrini. According to the minister, success depends on speed, coordination and a clear national strategy, supported by modern education and stable energy infrastructure.

During the international summit, Minister Tomáš Drucker presented Slovakia’s ambition to become one of Europe’s leaders in the practical application of artificial intelligence across the public sector, education and industry.

He emphasized that in the age of artificial intelligence, a country’s success depends less on size and more on the ability to act quickly and strategically.

“In the era of AI, the size of a country matters less than speed, coordination and clarity of purpose. We must build not only physical highways, which we still need, but also digital ones,” said the minister.

People, not hardware, drive AI progress

Stable and sustainable energy infrastructure also plays an important role in the development of artificial intelligence. Reliable energy supply creates favorable conditions for building data centers and high-performance computing infrastructure within the European Union.

Slovakia benefits from a high share of nuclear energy in its electricity mix. The Ministry of Education supports this advantage through an action plan focused on education, research and workforce development in the nuclear sector.

However, education remains the central pillar of Slovakia’s AI strategy.

“The real foundation of artificial intelligence is not hardware, but people. That is why we systematically integrate AI into the entire education system, from primary schools to universities,” Tomáš Drucker emphasized.

Focus on skills and AI literacy

The Ministry of Education is introducing AI literacy across school subjects starting from lower grades. The reform focuses on data literacy, algorithmic thinking, ethical aspects of AI and the ability to critically evaluate AI-generated outputs.

The strategy also includes systematic teacher training, clear competency frameworks and university centers of excellence dedicated to artificial intelligence.

“We will teach students how artificial intelligence works, what its limits are and how to use it ethically and responsibly. We start already in primary school, because attitudes toward technology form at an early age,” the minister said.

Responsibility without hesitation

Slovakia does not see the debate about artificial intelligence as a choice between strict regulation and rapid innovation. According to the minister, both must progress together.

The government plans to pilot AI projects on a manageable scale, evaluate them carefully and then expand successful solutions.

“Responsibility does not mean hesitation. It means clear direction and disciplined implementation. Artificial intelligence must strengthen education, not weaken responsibility,” added Tomáš Drucker.

A comprehensive national approach

Slovakia plans to connect education reform, research investments, energy strategy and the modernization of public administration into one coherent framework. This approach aims to prepare the economy and society for the era of artificial intelligence in a systematic and responsible way.

“The question is not whether we will enter the era of artificial intelligence, but how responsibly we design our own path. Slovakia has decided to act,” the minister concluded.