AI to be integrated in Armenian government call centers

PanARMENIAN.Net - Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited the Ministry of High-Tech Industry to review the agency’s performance in 2025 and discuss ongoing initiatives. Minister Mkhitar Hayrapetyan presented key achievements, noting that major 2025 priorities included digitization, application of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, development of the tech ecosystem, telecommunications, and radio frequency regulation.

Hayrapetyan stated that AI is set to be deployed in government call centers, adding that local Armenian tech companies have already developed the necessary voice-based technologies, fully functional in Armenian.

“The solution already exists in Armenia. A person calls, and Armenian-language voice-to-text and text-to-voice technologies are now a reality. We’ve closed the entire loop,” he said.

A highlight was the launch of the Virtual AI Institute via the platform, developed in partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Mistral AI. Responding to the Prime Minister, Hayrapetyan confirmed that the platform is open to students, startups, and researchers. Starting in 2027, it will also offer access to computational resources provided by Firebird AI.

The minister announced a pilot state support program to ensure access to high-performance AI infrastructure. Additionally, the first half of 2026 will see the rollout of a citizen–AI dialogue platform, currently under technical development.

Pashinyan emphasized the need to assess current staffing and budgets across government departments and prepare public servants for a digital future through targeted training.

“We must evaluate existing units, their budgets and staffing, and focus on retraining our colleagues in these divisions,” he said.

He also stressed that digitization should remain a top government priority.

“I don’t foresee a future where we say, ‘Let’s take digitization off the priority list and treat it as routine,’” Pashinyan added.

The meeting also highlighted the introduction of Starlink satellite internet in Armenia, operational since March 27, 2025, offering high-speed connectivity even in remote areas.

In a major announcement, the Ministry confirmed that Firebird AI plans to invest approximately $500 million in Armenia to build a large-scale AI data center — one of the region’s most ambitious initiatives in the field.

Programs to boost military-industrial development were also discussed, along with startup support projects run in partnership with international firm Plug and Play. These initiatives aim to support dozens of startups annually with mentorship, business consulting, and global networking.

A new national strategy for the high-tech sector is currently under consultation with stakeholders and is set for approval in the first half of 2026.