Director of the Agency for Communications Networks and Services of the Republic of Slovenia (AKOS) mag. Marko Mišmaš participated in the round table "Regulation of Artificial Intelligence in the Republic of Slovenia: how to bridge the gap between strategy and practice" at the Corporate Security Days, which are taking place at Brdo pri Kranju. The main topic of the discussion was the key challenges and opportunities in the implementation of the European Artificial Intelligence Act in Slovenia.
AKOS assumed the role of the central operational body for the implementation of the AI Act in Slovenia with the Act on the Implementation of the Regulation on Harmonised Rules on Artificial Intelligence (ZIUDHPUI). It acts as the single contact point of the Republic of Slovenia, the market surveillance authority, the competent authority for regulatory sandboxes and the entry point for SMEs.
"This is a strategic shift in the functioning of the Agency, which does not have a classical regulatory function in this area. AKOS is not just a supervisory authority, but a central national operational pillar for the implementation of the Artificial Intelligence Act in Slovenia," Mišmaš stressed.
AKOS aims to be a modern, professional and development-oriented institution, linking regulators, business, research and European institutions. They place particular emphasis on understanding technologies, preventive action and support for innovation.
"Our aim is to create an environment where legal predictability and regulatory clarity allow innovation to develop more safely. Regulation is the framework for the trustworthy use of AI," said Mr Mišmaš.
An important part of AKOS's future work will be the establishment of a national regulatory sandbox for AI, which Slovenia has to have in place by August 2027 at the latest. This will be a controlled environment for testing innovative AI systems in real-life conditions, with the direct support of regulators.
"If the AI Act is theory, regulatory sandboxes are laboratory practice. We understand them as a safe space for experimentation, reducing legal uncertainty and enabling early collaboration between regulator and innovator," explained Mishmash.
The regulatory sandbox, he said, will be based on close cooperation with other supervisory authorities, including the Information Commissioner, the Bank of Slovenia, the Market Inspectorate of the Republic of Slovenia and sector regulators.
"We do not want duplication of competences and a fragmented regulatory space. On the contrary. The aim is a harmonised, predictable and efficient regulatory approach so that companies can gain a comprehensive view of the requirements of different legal regimes through the sandbox," emphasises AKOS Director Mišmaš.
According to him, AKOS wants to actively contribute to the development of trustworthy artificial intelligence in Slovenia, while at the same time ensuring the protection of fundamental rights, security and public interest.
