Message from Prime Minister Janez Janša on Science Day

SLOVENIA, November 10 - They have made it possible for an individual’s destiny to be shaped not merely by family background and parental wealth, but by their own abilities and hard work. Even today, somewhere in Slovenia, the next Jurij Vega is learning the basics of mathematics, while elsewhere in the country a new Jožef Stefan is taking his first lessons in physics. Disseminating scientific knowledge through education is therefore not merely a contribution to economic progress but an investment in individual freedom, the well-being of society as a whole and the long-term future of our nation.

We Slovenians are exceptionally well placed to build such a future. We are a nation that has repeatedly demonstrated over the centuries that knowledge can help us overcome the constraints of our small geographical size and population. Our history is rich in remarkable inventions and groundbreaking ideas that have had a profound impact on the world. Franc Suhadolc, the son of a Slovenian emigrant, led the team that developed the legendary Boeing 747, one of the most recognisable symbols of twentieth-century technological progress. With his invention of photography on glass, Janez Puhar is recognised as a pioneer of photography worldwide. France Rode was one of the inventors of the electronic pocket calculator, a device we now take for granted. Herman Potočnik Noordung was a visionary who helped pave the way for humanity's journey into the vastness of space. Science has played a major role in shaping Slovenian identity and putting Slovenia on the world map.

Today, we are entering a new technological reality in which science will play an even more important role than it has in the past. Artificial intelligence – often referred to in the United States as superintelligence – is already having a profound impact on the way we learn, conduct research and communicate. Its potential is immense: it is accelerating scientific breakthroughs, helping to develop innovative medicines, optimising industrial processes and opening up entirely new scientific fields that were completely beyond our reach until quite recently. Some predict dystopian scenarios in which artificial intelligence becomes humanity’s executioner. Yet science itself was once met with similar misgivings. In reality, artificial intelligence is a reflection of ourselves. It cannot decide for us which questions are worth asking or what kind of world we want to create. It will always be up to us to ask the questions. The direction of artificial intelligence will remain in human hands – in the hands of people guided by values. Those who have good intentions at heart will know how to steer it towards serving humanity, improving quality of life and opening up new opportunities. That is why we should not fear artificial intelligence, just as we should not fear science itself. Instead, we must ensure that we have the wisdom to master it and put it to work for the benefit of all humanity.

The future of humanity will not be shaped by artificial intelligence in a vacuum. It is people who will make the decisions, and we will determine the direction in which artificial intelligence develops. In doing so, we must be guided by both the scientific method and human conscience, so that, through creativity, science can fulfil its fundamental mission: to become and remain the most powerful driving force behind human progress.

On Science Day, I extend my sincere congratulations to all Slovenian scientists who raise Slovenia’s profile on the world stage and, through their discoveries, make the world a better place. For ourselves and for generations to come.

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