Vucic: Next Serbian military parade to feature thousands of armed robots

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced on Monday Serbia's next military parade would feature thousands of armed robots and that he would ask Chinese President Xi Jinping for China's support on the matter.

Vucic was speaking to reporters at a presentation of robots made by the Chinese company AGIBOT Innovation, at which he said Serbia could start manufacturing humanoid robots as early as this year.

"One detail caught my eye at the presentation as soon as they said they also have bigger ones that can each carry 100 kg - since these can carry 10, 20, 30 kg - which means that they can carry cameras and work, which they are already doing in China: border control, there are wheeled versions on roads, there are wheelless versions that can jump over things and do all possible things, and you can also arm them. So, at our next military parade, we will have thousands of robots, and we will provide additional security to our country," Vucic said.

He also said there was a plan for Serbia's artificial intelligence application industry to have a workforce of 8,000 by 2030.

Vucic: Serbia could start producing humanoid robots this year

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Monday Serbia could this year become the first country in Europe to start producing humanoid robots.

Vucic was speaking to reporters at a presentation of robots manufactured by the Chinese company AGIBOT Innovation.

"This year, in the next few months, we can embark on one of the biggest-ever investments in Serbia and we can become the first country in Europe to produce robots like these," Vucic said at the Chinese cultural centre in Belgrade.

He said the robots, including all their components, could be manufactured in Serbia.

"This is about applied artificial intelligence, and not just about software, but hardware as well," he said.

In addition to a robot factory, Serbia could have data factories associated with its data center, he added.

"Why? Because these robots must each have 100 million hours of learning for what they do. They can make you tea or coffee, iron your clothes, do your laundry, and everything else. And we will try to manufacture all that here and to become the first in Europe, as early as this year," Vucic said.