During the session titled “Artificial Intelligence Journey: A Path into the World of Artificial Intelligence” at the VIII Eastern Economic Forum, specialists from Sberbank, AIRI, SberMedII and Skoltech shared how artificial intelligence is addressing the most pressing challenges in sustainable development and lifecare. The gathering highlighted real-world applications where AI is turning research into practical solutions that save lives and improve communities across the region. According to representatives from Sberbank, AI technologies are being translated into tools that support decision making, accelerate diagnostics, and optimize response systems in critical settings.
In a major move to assist stroke patients, Sber has launched a comprehensive care solution called Udar. The project is currently piloting in the Primorsky Territory and preparing for rollout in the Novosibirsk region. The system supports neurologists in guiding patients with suspected acute cerebrovascular events. By leveraging AI-based services, clinicians can perform differential diagnoses, determine hospitalization indications, and identify the most suitable medical facility for patient transfer. This initiative underscores how intelligent automation can streamline clinical pathways, reduce time to treatment, and enhance patient outcomes. The effort is being closely monitored by regional health authorities and aligns with broader health system modernization goals reported by Sber’s healthcare units.
Oleg Artyugin, who leads the Sberbank Artificial Intelligence Technology Development Center for the Benefit of Society, described how machine vision technologies are being applied to wildlife identification tasks. The goal is to preserve biodiversity by enabling rapid, scalable monitoring of animal populations. The AI model can slash image processing times by more than twentyfold and improve the accuracy of tracking rare and endangered species, contributing valuable data for conservation strategies and environmental planning. This work illustrates the dual impact of AI on science and ecological stewardship, supporting both research and practical management of natural resources.
Evgeniy Burnaev, head of the Skoltech Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence and a leading researcher at AIRI, explained that applied AI is instrumental in advancing sustainable development. He emphasized that global climate change, driven by human activity, calls for a serious energy transition. The discussion highlighted how AI can optimize energy systems, improve efficiency, and accelerate the deployment of renewable technologies. These insights reflect a concerted effort among academic institutions, industry labs, and businesses to harness data-driven intelligence for climate resilience and economic progress.
AI Journey serves as Sber’s annual conference dedicated to exploring the evolution of artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies. The forum gathers researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to share advances, debate ethical considerations, and showcase practical deployments across sectors such as health, environment, finance, and infrastructure. The program emphasizes not only technical breakthroughs but also responsible deployment and the integration of AI into everyday workflows for improved outcomes and societal benefit.
The VIII Eastern Economic Forum was hosted in Vladivostok with activities spanning early to mid-September, reflecting ongoing regional collaboration and strategic discussions about technology, innovation, and economic development. The event fostered cross-border dialogue and highlighted the role of AI as a driver of competitiveness and inclusive growth in the Far East and broader markets across Canada and the United States as well as partners in the Asia-Pacific region.