Armenia needs to determine which model of artificial intelligence development it intends to pursue and agree on this approach among the government, regulators and industry stakeholders. Without a shared understanding of the way forward, rapid technological development could outpace the establishment of the necessary rules and regulatory mechanisms. This was stated by Natalia Mochu, Regional Director of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), speaking at the 11th Armenian Internet Governance Forum, ArmIGF2026.

According to her, countries choose different models for regulating AI: some introduce stricter legal restrictions on specific areas of its application, while others take an open approach, allowing ready-made solutions to be imported and giving the sector greater freedom to develop. ITU does not recommend any single option to countries, as the choice depends on national priorities. However, Mochu believes it is important for Armenia first to develop a shared position on the issue.

“One practical step would be to establish a platform bringing together the government and other industry stakeholders to determine which approach the country wants to adopt for its future development,” she noted.

In the ITU representative's view, such cooperation would help identify which areas require strict legislative regulation and where it would be appropriate to maintain more flexible conditions for technological development. It is important that the chosen model be clear not only to the government, but also to regulators, telecommunications operators, internet service providers and businesses.

Assessing the country's readiness to adopt AI

Mochu noted that Armenia is already making significant efforts toward digital transformation at the national level. ITU is working with the government in this area, particularly with the Ministry of High-Tech Industry, the Public Services Regulatory Commission and other stakeholders.

At the same time, to further develop AI, the country needs to focus on several areas: ensuring universal and meaningful internet access at affordable prices, improving the security and resilience of national networks, and developing the digital skills of both civil servants and the population as a whole. To support countries in building national artificial intelligence ecosystems, ITU has developed a range of practical tools.

One of these is the AI Readiness Framework, a methodology for assessing the readiness of countries, organizations and individual sectors to adopt AI. It helps identify strengths and gaps in digital infrastructure, data quality, research, skills, the innovation environment and AI governance. The results of such an assessment could help Armenia identify priorities for its national strategy and areas where additional international technical support is needed. Another resource is the AI Readiness Enablement Tool. It is designed for self-assessment of readiness to adopt AI and for obtaining practical recommendations on areas requiring particular attention.

Mochu also highlighted ITU's work on developing technical standards for AI implementation. More than 400 standards are already available in the organization's database and can be accessed free of charge through its online resources. In addition, ITU supports technology testing mechanisms and the creation of regulatory sandboxes, which allow new solutions to be tested under controlled conditions before they are incorporated into the national regulatory framework.

Training is needed beyond the civil service

Human capacity development is a separate area of ITU's work. According to Mochu, training should cover not only civil servants, employees of digital agencies and specialists involved in policymaking and regulation, but also the entire population.

To this end, the organization offers two educational platforms. The first is the AI Skills Coalition, an open international platform bringing together hundreds of courses from leading organizations. These cover generative artificial intelligence, machine learning and AI governance and are intended for civil servants, regulators, educators, students and the general public.

The second is ITU Academy, the International Telecommunication Union's own educational platform. Among its offerings is an introductory course on AI governance available in English and Russian. It covers the responsible use of AI, public policy and regulation, human rights, and the use of artificial intelligence for countries' digital transformation.

Mochu also presented the AI for Good Innovation Factory initiative, which aims to support startups and the innovation ecosystem. It includes international startup competitions, mentoring and expert support.