Within the Global Index on Responsible AI (GIRAI) project, the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI), serving as a regional hub, was actively involved in several key phases of the global initiative.

The Global Index on Responsible AI has been established to provide inclusive and measurable indicators to track the implementation of responsible AI principles by governments and stakeholders. Starting in March and extending through June, 2023, IDFI dedicated its efforts to reviewing the research methodology and provide its feedback to the project global team, which, upon approval, paved the way for our engagement in the pilot research phase between July and September, 2023

During the pilot research phase, IDFI gathered primary data on Georgia related to AI frameworks, government initiatives, and non-governmental actions. This data has been integral to our ongoing research efforts, particularly in the post-pilot phase, as we employ it to evaluate the state of Responsible AI in Georgia and gauge the country's progress in this field.

Furthermore, the pilot phase also served as a valuable opportunity to review and test the effectiveness of the research methodology and its applicability to the regions falling under the purview of IDFI - Eastern Europe and Central Asia. In doing so, IDFI actively contributed to the refinement of the methodology.

After carefully selecting 12 researchers from their respective countries, during October 23-26, 2023 all the national researchers were participating in training sessions focused on Responsible AI and the research tools essential for their work. Following the training, the national researchers will commence their research initiatives within their home countries under the close supervision of the IDFI. The institute will also be actively involved in aiding with data collection and providing guidance to the national researchers whenever needed.

Upon the completion of the research, a comprehensive global report on Responsible AI worldwide will be released in the first half of 2024. IDFI will play a significant role in this endeavor by crafting a regional analysis focusing on Eastern Europe and Central Asia.