Prospects for AI integration in industry, public sector, and healthcare discussed at the International Symposium "Inventing the Future"
On November 5, the National Centre RUSSIA hosted a panel session titled "AI: What's Coming Tomorrow?" as part of the International Symposium "Inventing the Future." Participants examined potential technologies that may follow AI, the consequences of swift technological progress, and the effects of AI on business, science, healthcare, and the evolving nature of work.
Alexander Petukhov, Director of Science and Innovation at the ANO Neimark and a top finalist in the "Leaders of Russia" competition, highlighted the vast potential for AI integration in industry.
"When we talk about artificial intelligence, chatbots, ChatGPT, and large language models are first to come to mind. Yes, they provide the most visible effects that everyone can use. However, industrial neural networks, such as those that control industrial production, are actually more complex in terms of algorithm development and address more global challenges than marketing," emphasized Alexander Petukhov.
Vasily Shpak, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, proposed examining AI through the lens of industrial technology.
"Artificial intelligence is a technology, but it doesn’t work autonomously. Successful integration requires understanding what needs improvement and where automation could be applied. Only with an in-depth grasp of technological processes can we overcome production cycle disruptions and introduce AI. With it, we can create a flexible and adaptive production system capable of rapidly adjusting production models to respond to economic shifts," stated Vasily Shpak.
AI safety is crucial when working with this technology, highlighted Vladimir Leshchenko, Director of the AI Competence Development Centre at the Cifrum Private Institution. According to him, as AI spreads in the industry, this issue will grow increasingly relevant — industrial processes can significantly impact the economy, the environment, and other areas.
Gleb Dyakonov, Director of the Applied Solutions Department at NtechLab (Rostec), spoke about AI’s influence on the public safety improvement.
"One of the most in-demand areas of AI application, facial recognition technology, can globally improve public security. Safety is not only about crime reduction but also about fostering better interpersonal relationships. Another area is healthcare. AI is used in diagnosing existing diseases and identifying early signs of neurodegeneration, such as Alzheimer’s," noted Gleb Dyakonov.
The world is now witnessing the emergence of an AI alliance of countries that will increase their influence, noted Mark Turovetsky, Development Director at immers.cloud. Russia is among the leading nations in AI implementation and addressing global challenges — from economic forecasting to societal safety tools.
However, artificial intelligence cannot replace human thinking, it will only enhance human efficiency, remarked Sergei Vyaznikov, a Data Scientist at the Istok Research and Production Association named after Shokhin.
The discussion of AI integration in science continued with participants of the panel session "AI in Science: Biology." Experts examined the AI tools that scientists require today to boost research effectiveness and speed, as well as the skills and knowledge biologists should cultivate to work effectively with AI technologies.
Albert Yefimov, Vice President and Director of the Research and Innovation Department at Sberbank PJSC, pointed out that biotechnology is the primary field for AI and the defining technology of the 21st century. While AI’s prospects may be debated, it is now certain that AI will remain integral to scientific research.
Senior Researcher in the Bioinformatics group at the AIRI Institute, Tatiana Shashkova, spoke about the potential for AI in predicting cell structures, generating proteins, and using them in therapy.
AI holds tremendous prospects in analyzing human mental functions, noted Maxim Sharayev, Candidate of Sciences in Physics and Mathematics, Head of the Biomedical AI Laboratory, and senior lecturer at Skoltech.
"Firstly, artificial intelligence can be applied in neuroimaging — everything that reveals how the brain functions. Secondly, in neurobiology, we aim to understand how higher mental functions — memory, attention, and others — originate. We hope that AI can help analyze vast amounts of complex data and generate hypotheses about how these functions work," emphasized Maxim Sharayev.
Science fiction writers are among the key specialists in predicting AI applications, noted Eldar Safin, a sci-fi writer and IT specialist. The expert emphasized that one of literature’s main themes is humanity’s transition into a new form. The writer acknowledges that the trajectory of progress suggests that humanity will either modernize itself or evolve into a new form — potentially becoming artificial intelligence.
Nonetheless, the ability to work with big data and machine learning will relieve humanity from a range of diseases, believes Lukas Atma Jaya, Chair of the Indonesian Artificial Intelligence Society and Associate Professor at the Faculty of Engineering, Indonesian Catholic University.
"The Symposium discusses many topics that deeply concern me. AI integration in biology is one of them, and I have always been interested in machine learning. The transfer of knowledge to computers is particularly significant in biology, psychology, psychiatry, and medicine. These are areas that could help rid humanity of numerous diseases and premature aging. For this, experts from various countries and industries must work together, " stated Lukas Atma Jaya.
The International Symposium "Inventing the Future" is being held from November 4 to 6. Participants include scientists, researchers, futurists, science fiction writers, and representatives from government bodies from 101 countries, including Russia, India, Italy, Iran, China, the UAE, Serbia, the USA, and France. The program features over 60 sessions across four tracks: "Future of Human," "Future of Technology," "Future of Multipolar World," and "Future of Civilizations." The program and event broadcasts are available at the website future.russia.ru.
The International Symposium "Inventing the Future" is the first event of the National Centre RUSSIA, which was established on July 1, 2024, by the order of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin. The Centre aims to preserve the legacy of the International RUSSIA EXPO and showcase the achievements of the country and its citizens. The work of the Centre involves federal authorities, state companies, corporations, and regions.
