Czech government creates AI council to drive adoption in businesses and state

Czechia will establish a Government Council for Artificial Intelligence to coordinate the adoption of AI across businesses and public administration, ministers agreed Monday.

Chaired by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, the council will bring together government representatives and experts from research, education and the startup sector. Its remit includes helping smaller companies use AI and turning the country’s national strategy into practical measures.

The cabinet also approved a separate bill defining responsibility for AI supervision and creating a framework for controlled testing of new technologies. Government approval does not mean that legislation is already in force.

Babiš said the council would address both European competitiveness and AI security. He credited Vladimír Mařík of the Czech Technical University’s Czech Institute of Informatics, Robotics and Cybernetics with initiating its establishment.

Industry and Trade Minister Karel Havlíček said the priority was to bring AI into the everyday operations of companies and the state.

“For Czech industry, this is an opportunity to increase productivity and establish ourselves with our own technologies,” he said. Achieving that would require stronger links between research and business, alongside coordination between ministries.

Havlíček will serve as the council’s first deputy chair, while the government’s AI commissioner will be its executive deputy chair. The commissioner’s role is currently held by Lukáš Kačena, formerly director of the academic association prg.ai.

The council will coordinate implementation of the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy and prepare proposals for government decisions. Particular attention will go to small and medium-sized businesses and startups.

It will work alongside existing government councils covering the information society and research, development and innovation.

The Industry and Trade Ministry will support its operations within approved budget limits. Members will not receive remuneration for serving on the council.

The accompanying AI bill would make the Czech Telecommunications Office the main supervisory authority and single point of contact.

The Czech National Bank and the Office for Personal Data Protection would oversee specified areas. The proposal also establishes conditions for a regulatory sandbox—a controlled environment in which new AI solutions can be tested under supervision.

Lukáš Benzl, director of the Czech AI Association, welcomed the council’s potential to connect government with businesses and specialists, but said its value would depend on delivery.

AI should be treated primarily as an economic opportunity, rather than solely a regulatory issue, he told ČTK.

The council could help remove barriers to adoption, support education and improve conditions for innovation. The key, Benzl said, would be ensuring that discussions and strategies lead to concrete measures helping Czech companies use AI.

The government has also backed the AI Gigafactory project for which České Radiokomunikace is seeking support.