On October 16 of this year, at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy, as part of the special course "Modern International Relations, World Economy and Interests of Uzbekistan", a meeting of students with the Minister of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sherzod Shermatov on the topic: "AI and Industry 4.0: Opportunities and Threats" was held.

The meeting was opened by the First Deputy Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis, Rector of UWED Sodyq Safoev, noting the importance of new technologies in the development of the country, which open up great opportunities, but at the same time, pose certain challenges and threats.

In his speech, Sh. Shermatov spoke about the opportunities that artificial intelligence (AI) provides in various fields and its crucial importance in modern society.

He introduced the audience to current data on the development of artificial intelligence in our country, emphasizing its impact on the growth of gross domestic product, the development of the business sector, and attracting investments.

The minister paid special attention to Uzbekistan's prospects for taking leading positions in technology and highlighted the importance of informing young people about the role of artificial intelligence and its influence on the economic and social status of the state.

 As an example, he mentioned the field of medicine, where an accurate diagnosis significantly guarantees successful treatment for patients. "With the help of artificial intelligence, we can, for instance, detect lung cancer with an accuracy of 94% when diagnosing early," said Shermatov.

During the discussion, the threats arising from the irrational use of information technologies were also addressed, as well as the risks of rising unemployment caused by the automation of various processes in industry, agriculture, and other sectors.

 Sh. Shermatov demonstrated the current threats posed by the misuse of AI, using the example of generated fake videos—"deepfakes."

During the discussion, the Minister of Digital Technologies presented to the students the strategy for the development of artificial intelligence in Uzbekistan, which was approved by the President of the country in October of this year. This strategy includes the implementation of new technologies in key areas such as agriculture, education, healthcare, and financial services.

In conclusion, Sh. Shermatov answered students' questions and demonstrated available artificial intelligence platforms that can be used to optimize the learning process at the university.