Iran has unveiled a prototype of its national AI platform, designed to address the country’s technological challenges and mitigate the impact of international sanctions. The platform, developed with open-source technology and domestic infrastructure, is expected to be fully launched in March 2026. The initiative aims to ensure the functionality of Iran’s AI system even during internet disruptions or sanctions.
The AI platform is based on GPU processing infrastructure and includes large language and multi-modal models, intelligent agents, and application layers for various industries. The project, which began in October 2023, involves collaboration with institutions like the Sharif University of Technology, despite sanctions targeting the university. The platform’s design ensures resilience in the face of external restrictions, as it operates independently from foreign APIs and is connected to the national internet, as stated by Hamidreza Rabiei, head of the Advanced Information and Communication Technology Research Institute (AICTC).
The AI project comes amidst a controversial use of AI in surveillance by the Iranian government. The United Nations Human Rights Council recently released a report detailing Iran’s use of facial recognition technology to track women protesting the country’s hijab rules. The government has been deploying AI-driven surveillance to monitor compliance with hijab laws and suppress protests, drawing global concern over human rights violations.
Iran has increasingly used AI-based technologies for surveillance, with support from China, Turkey, India, and the UAE. Iranian authorities have also developed homegrown facial recognition technology, used in mass surveillance and to enforce societal control. The recent unveiling of the AI platform reflects Iran’s growing reliance on technology to strengthen its governance and counteract external pressures.
