Until 2022, artificial intelligence technologies largely operated behind the scenes, quietly improving services, products, and processes without the broader public understanding. Then Transformers, a deep neural network architecture developed over recent years, shifted AI into the spotlight as a tangible product. During a session titled “Journey of Artificial Intelligence: a journey into the world of artificial intelligence,” the moderator, Semyon Budyonny, a candidate of physical and mathematical sciences who leads Sberbank’s division for advancing AI technologies and serves as a scientific advisor to AIRI, spoke about this evolution. The event was part of SPIEF programming and explored how AI has moved from niche research to everyday utility [Citation: SPIEF session coverage].
Budyonny pointed out that today the entry barrier for non-experts is dropping, as user-friendly AI tools become more accessible and capable.
This democratization has been accelerated in part by the surge of generative AI, which enables new possibilities for content creation, data synthesis, and interactive applications across industries.
He noted that distinguishing between machine-generated content and human-produced material is increasingly challenging, a trend that reflects both advances in generation quality and the growing role of AI in everyday communication [Citation: AI generation overview].
St. Hovhannes Petrosyan, director of the Center for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science at Saint Petersburg State University, discussed the development of artificial intelligence of things (AIoT).
Petrosyan explained that AIoT combines algorithms and intelligence with Internet of Things devices to amplify their capabilities, driving smarter, more efficient, and more autonomous operation. In a modern smart home, AIoT signifies a seamless integration of AI into IoT ecosystems, enabling devices to work together in more human-like ways.
“This fusion allows smart devices to learn from user interactions, adapt to individual preferences, and make informed decisions based on collected data,” Petrosyan stated.
Alexey Osadchiy, head of the Neuro Interfaces research group at the AIRI Institute and director of the Center for Bioelectric Interfaces at the Higher School of Economics, spoke about how artificial intelligence can be used to communicate with the human brain.
He emphasized that the next wave of systems neuroscience will be driven by neural interface tools that support bidirectional and context-aware exchanges with neural tissue.
Osadchiy described interfaces capable of naturally aligning with neural tissue activity, adjusting to functional states, and interacting by reading, decoding, encoding, and directly recording new information.
AI Journey, or “Journey to the World of Artificial Intelligence,” is an annual Sber conference that gathers leading experts in the field to discuss recent breakthroughs, practical applications, and future directions in artificial intelligence. The event continues to serve as a hub for researchers, practitioners, and decision-makers who are shaping AI strategies for both the Canadian and American landscapes. [Citation: Conference overview]