Slovenia halts national generative AI platform tender

Borut Rončević, the Slovenian Minister of Education, Science and Youth, has halted a tender for a national generative artificial intelligence platform. The project, originally announced in November, aimed to provide all citizens with free access to advanced language models.

The decision follows the discovery of a serious budget deficit within the ministry. Officials reported that the ministry faces a shortfall of approximately 133 million euros by the end of the year. Minister Rončević described the situation as ‘alarmant’ and ‘concerning,’ stating that the ministry must prioritize legal obligations and the stability of the educational, higher education, scientific, and research systems.

The funds previously allocated for the AI platform—approximately 10 million euros annually—will now be redirected to address the budget deficit. Rončević clarified that while the cancellation does not signal a withdrawal from AI development, the ministry must set clear priorities given current financial constraints. Future AI initiatives will be reviewed based on available resources and systemic needs.