On November 5, the panel session “AI: What Happens Tomorrow?” was held at the National Center “Russia” as part of the International Symposium “Creating the Future.” Participants discussed technologies expected to follow AI, the impacts of rapidly developing technology, and how AI influences business, science, healthcare, and changes the nature of work.

Alexander Petukhov, Director of Science Innovation at the ANO “Neimark” and a super-finalist of the “Leaders of Russia” competition, emphasized AI’s enormous potential in industry. “When we talk about artificial intelligence, people first think of chatbots, ChatGPT, and large language models. Yes, these are the most visible applications, and everyone can use them. But industrial neural networks, such as those for managing production, are far more complex and address larger-scale issues than marketing,” noted Petukhov.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Vasily Shpak suggested viewing AI through the lens of industrial technology. “Artificial intelligence is a technology, but it doesn’t function independently. Its implementation requires understanding which processes need improvement and where there is room for automation. Only with a deep understanding of the technological process can we resolve production cycle disruptions and implement AI. It enables flexible and adaptive production that can quickly respond to economic changes,” Shpak emphasized.

Vladimir Leshchenko, Director of the Competence Center for AI Development at “Tsifrum,” highlighted the importance of security when working with AI, noting that as AI spreads in industry, safety will become increasingly relevant. Industrial processes can have a global impact on the economy, ecology, and other areas.

Gleb Dyakonov, Director of Applied Solutions at NtechLab (Rostec), spoke about AI’s role in enhancing societal safety. “One of the most in-demand applications of AI is facial recognition technology, which can significantly improve public safety. Safety is about reducing crime and improving relationships between people. Another area is healthcare, where AI assists in diagnosing existing diseases and identifying early signs of neurodegeneration, such as Alzheimer’s,” said Dyakonov.

Mark Turovetsky, Director of Development at immers.cloud, suggested that an AI-powered global influence network is forming, with Russia at the forefront of integrating AI and tackling global issues, from economic forecasting to societal safety tools.

Nevertheless, artificial intelligence cannot replace human thinking but will enhance human efficiency, noted Data Scientist Sergey Vyaznikov from JSC NPP “Istok” named after Shokhin.

Participants continued to discuss AI integration in science at the panel “AI in Science: Biology.” Experts examined the AI tools scientists need today to increase research efficiency and speed, as well as the skills biologists need to work effectively with AI.

Albert Efimov, Vice President and Head of Research and Innovation at Sberbank, stated that biotechnology is the main direction for AI and the defining technology of the 21st century. He added that while AI’s future remains a topic of debate, it is clear that AI will remain integral to scientific research.

Tatiana Shashkova, Senior Researcher in the “Bioinformatics” group at the AIRI Institute, discussed AI’s potential in predicting cell structure, generating proteins, and their therapeutic applications.

Maxim Sharaev, Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Head of the Biomedical AI Laboratory, and Senior Lecturer at Skoltech, noted AI’s great potential in analyzing human cognitive functions. “First, AI can be used in neuroimaging — everything that shows how the brain works. Second, it’s useful in neurobiology to understand how higher cognitive functions like memory and attention arise. We hope AI can help analyze large amounts of complex data and offer insights into these processes,” Sharaev emphasized.

Science fiction writers are also key to forecasting AI’s applications, according to science fiction author and IT specialist Eldar Safin. He noted that a prominent theme in literature is humanity’s transition to a new form, with AI possibly playing a central role.

Lucas Atma Jaya, Chair of the Indonesian Artificial Intelligence Society and Associate Professor of Engineering at the Indonesian Catholic University, shared his belief that big data and machine learning could eradicate many diseases. “Many of the topics discussed at the symposium deeply concern me. AI integration in biology is one of them, as I’ve always been interested in machine learning. The transfer of knowledge to computers is essential for biology, psychology, psychiatry, and medicine. These fields may benefit immensely, freeing humanity from many diseases and premature aging. To achieve this, experts from various countries and sectors must collaborate,” said Jaya.

The International Symposium “Creating the Future” runs from November 4 to 6, featuring scientists, researchers, futurists, science fiction writers, and government representatives from 101 countries, including Russia, India, Italy, Iran, China, the UAE, Serbia, the USA, and France. Over 60 sessions cover four key areas: the future of humanity, the future of technology, the future of a multipolar world, and the future of civilizations. Event details and broadcasts are available at https://future.russia.ru/.

The International Symposium “Creating the Future” is the first event of the National Center “Russia,” established on July 1, 2024, by decree of President Vladimir Putin. The center is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the International Exhibition Forum “Russia” and showcasing the country’s achievements. Federal authorities, state-owned enterprises, corporations, and regional representatives participate in the center’s activities.