Dear colleagues! We continue to introduce you to the topics and experts of the international conference GAI: Pro&Contra 2025.
➡️ Pavel Kondrashov, Head of the Center for Digital Transformation of Public Administration, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Public Administration at Lomonosov Moscow State University.
– Pavel Evgenievich, what do you expect from the 2025 conference?
– There are currently a huge number of various events on the topic of AI. In my opinion, most of these conferences are primarily attended by developers of AI technologies and systems. However, the statement made by the President of Russia on the conference website highlights a very important aspect that aligns with the conference's concept: "Russia must become a global leader not only in the creation of AI, but also in its widespread application and integration into all aspects of our lives." This is why the conference was initially titled "Generative AI in Economic and Social Sectors."
However, the difficulties and problems that arise when using AI have prompted the conference organizers to add the words "Pro and Contra" to the conference title, so that the conference participants can discuss not only the positive effects of AI, but also the risks and negative consequences associated with its use. Therefore, I look forward to a very open and professional dialogue about the development of AI applications and the challenges that arise. The experience of holding a similar conference last year, but focusing on a narrower range of applications such as science, education, economics, and public administration, has demonstrated the effectiveness and relevance of this approach.
– Where will the conference be held?
– Given the broad scope of the conference’s title – in the sectors of the economy and social sphere – I consider it reasonable to form eight thematic sections of different sectoral focus in its structure. This approach to the formation of the structure set the choice of co-organizers of the sections and the venues for their holding. This year, 22 Russian science and education organizations are participating in the organization of the conference’s sections, which ensured the participation of specialists from a very large number of organizations.
For example, the ethics and values of AI technologies and systems will be discussed at the Institute of Philosophy of the Russian Academy of Sciences, while the use of generative AI in science will be discussed at the All-Russian Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of the Russian Academy of Sciences, with the participation of the Scientific Council on Artificial Intelligence under the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Faculty of Public Administration at Moscow State University. The section on "Generative AI and the Labor Market" will be organized and held in Ufa by the Ufa University of Science and Technology, in collaboration with the Vologda Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the University Consortium for Big Data Research, and the Eurasian Research and Education Center of the Republic of Bashkortostan. This is why the conference has already become a network event this year and is being held simultaneously in three Russian cities.
– What do you think are the benefits of generative artificial intelligence technologies for science, the economy, public administration, the social sphere, and people’s personal lives?
– It is simply impossible to answer this question briefly. Figuratively speaking, messages about AI and generative AI are almost coming out of every corner today. This can only mean one thing: AI technologies and systems are becoming an essential part of mass information culture and a priority technology in all sectors of the economy, social sphere, and national security.
I believe that in a very short time, there will be no one left who is not familiar with AI and does not use it in their lives and work. However, this also poses a significant risk. Such widespread use requires the organization of mass education not only for schoolchildren and students, but for all people, including those of an older age. It is important to teach people to understand the possibilities and limitations of this technology, and to know the basics and principles of neural networks. In general, it seems that the world of the future is already impossible without AI.
➡️ Pavel Kondrashov, Head of the Center for Digital Transformation of Public Administration, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Public Administration at Lomonosov Moscow State University.
– Pavel Evgenievich, what do you expect from the 2025 conference?
– There are currently a huge number of various events on the topic of AI. In my opinion, most of these conferences are primarily attended by developers of AI technologies and systems. However, the statement made by the President of Russia on the conference website highlights a very important aspect that aligns with the conference's concept: "Russia must become a global leader not only in the creation of AI, but also in its widespread application and integration into all aspects of our lives." This is why the conference was initially titled "Generative AI in Economic and Social Sectors."
However, the difficulties and problems that arise when using AI have prompted the conference organizers to add the words "Pro and Contra" to the conference title, so that the conference participants can discuss not only the positive effects of AI, but also the risks and negative consequences associated with its use. Therefore, I look forward to a very open and professional dialogue about the development of AI applications and the challenges that arise. The experience of holding a similar conference last year, but focusing on a narrower range of applications such as science, education, economics, and public administration, has demonstrated the effectiveness and relevance of this approach.
– Where will the conference be held?
– Given the broad scope of the conference’s title – in the sectors of the economy and social sphere – I consider it reasonable to form eight thematic sections of different sectoral focus in its structure. This approach to the formation of the structure set the choice of co-organizers of the sections and the venues for their holding. This year, 22 Russian science and education organizations are participating in the organization of the conference’s sections, which ensured the participation of specialists from a very large number of organizations.
For example, the ethics and values of AI technologies and systems will be discussed at the Institute of Philosophy of the Russian Academy of Sciences, while the use of generative AI in science will be discussed at the All-Russian Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of the Russian Academy of Sciences, with the participation of the Scientific Council on Artificial Intelligence under the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Faculty of Public Administration at Moscow State University. The section on "Generative AI and the Labor Market" will be organized and held in Ufa by the Ufa University of Science and Technology, in collaboration with the Vologda Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the University Consortium for Big Data Research, and the Eurasian Research and Education Center of the Republic of Bashkortostan. This is why the conference has already become a network event this year and is being held simultaneously in three Russian cities.
– What do you think are the benefits of generative artificial intelligence technologies for science, the economy, public administration, the social sphere, and people’s personal lives?
– It is simply impossible to answer this question briefly. Figuratively speaking, messages about AI and generative AI are almost coming out of every corner today. This can only mean one thing: AI technologies and systems are becoming an essential part of mass information culture and a priority technology in all sectors of the economy, social sphere, and national security.
I believe that in a very short time, there will be no one left who is not familiar with AI and does not use it in their lives and work. However, this also poses a significant risk. Such widespread use requires the organization of mass education not only for schoolchildren and students, but for all people, including those of an older age. It is important to teach people to understand the possibilities and limitations of this technology, and to know the basics and principles of neural networks. In general, it seems that the world of the future is already impossible without AI.