The Public Policy Research Center and the Serbian AI Society, in collaboration with the Center for the Promotion of Science, have decided to organize a series of workshops and panels under the name “AI uner the stars ” with the aim of providing engaging and educational content and creating a space for discussions necessary for any society that wishes to harness the potential of artificial intelligence for the benefit of citizens while adhering to ethical principles.
The workshops are open to all age groups, especially those visitors who would like to better understand and explore the capabilities and limitations of AI through practical examples.
The panels are designed as open forums for discussion on the reach, limitations, and consequences of using artificial intelligence in all aspects of life, from public policies to medicine, culture, and media. The workshops and panels are organized at the premises of the Center for the Promotion of Science, located at Kralja Petra 46, Belgrade, either in-person or in a hybrid format.
If you would like to stay informed about the “AI pod zvezdama” program, follow us on social media: Public Policy Research Center Serbian AI Society , and the Center for the Promotion of Science. If you are interested in past events, take a look at photos, YouTube videos, and blogs by our members and participants.
WORKSHOPS:
Playing with Generative Models – July 5, 2023.
At this interesting and interactive event, we familiarized ourselves with the basics of generative artificial intelligence. We explored the significance of large language models and their potential, exchanging ideas about the possibilities and limitations of models like ChatGPT. We also discussed the societal impact of these models, as well as their ethical aspects.
Speaker: Dr. Danica Despotovic, Data Scientist
Playing with Generative Models – August 12, 2023.
Speaker: Nikola Markovic, PhD student at the Technical University of Berlin
Playing with Generative Models – October 19, 2023
We invite all students and technology enthusiasts to an unforgettable workshop on the Turing Test and artificial intelligence! Join us for this exciting event organized by the Serbian Society for Artificial Intelligence in partnership with the Center for Research of Public Policies and the Center for the Promotion of Science.
Speaker: Milutin Studen, Machine Learning Engineer at SmartCat
PANEL DISCUSSIONS
What You (Don’t) Dare Say to AI? – April 24, 2025
The panel AI Under the Stars “What You (Don’t) Dare Say to AI?” opens a key question: what is it okay to entrust to artificial intelligence—and what is not? When can AI help, and when is it better to keep something to ourselves, or to talk about it with AI carefully and delicately? What could happen if we “let something slip” and confide an exceptional invention idea, a future bestseller, or an employee’s personal data?
The panel is intended for everyone who uses AI tools—from individuals seeking advice on health, education, finances, or everyday decisions, to employees in companies, schools, public services, media, and other institutions. We will address real dilemmas that arise when artificial intelligence becomes a “conversation partner” in work and life.
Panelists:
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Zlatko Petrović, Acting Assistant to the Secretary General, Sector for Reporting and Analytical Affairs, Office of the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection
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Nevena Ružić, Consultant, Privacy and the Public
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Isidora Gatarić, Analytics Delivery Lead
Moderator: Anja Berić, Serbian Artificial Intelligence Society (SAIS)
AI and the Future of Work: The Algorithm That (Didn’t) Love Me – March 27, 2025
How are algorithms changing the way we work and making decisions about our careers? Join us for the panel “AI and the Future of Work: The Algorithm That (Didn’t) Love Me”, where we will explore how artificial intelligence is shaping the labor market, workers’ rights, and the future of business.
Algorithmic management (AM) is not a new phenomenon, but with the rapid development of the digital economy it is becoming increasingly widespread and influential. The use of algorithms to assign tasks, monitor performance, and make hiring decisions is no longer limited to global technology companies—it is expanding into more traditional sectors as well, including manufacturing, services, transport, and public administration.
To what extent are AI and algorithms actually used in Serbian companies? How do they operate on digital platforms such as Glovo and Wolt, where workers often face non-transparent and automated decision-making? And perhaps most importantly—does the legal system in Serbia recognize and regulate this new reality of work, and if so, how?
Panelists:
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Dr. Darko Božičić, Faculty of Law, University of Novi Sad
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Ana Lojanica, Product Owner | Zevs LLC
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Branka Anđelković, Center for Research of Public Policies
Moderator: Tanja Jakobi, the Public Policy Research Centre
Inclusive AI: Technology for a More Accessible Future – February 27, 2025
The panel will focus on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in improving the inclusion of persons with disabilities in society, primarily by examining technological, educational, and practical aspects. It will explore how AI can contribute to the inclusion of people with different types of disabilities in the education system and, subsequently, in society as a whole. A 2023 survey indicates that 93% of assistive technology users believe that people with disabilities are not adequately represented in the development of AI tools (Accessibility and AI: Insights from Assistive Technology Users).
For this reason, special emphasis will be placed on adapting educational methods for children with special needs, through the use of technologies that enable personalized learning and easier access to educational content. The panelists will also present ways in which AI is being used to develop specific tools that enhance the independence of persons with disabilities, such as devices for blind and visually impaired users. The discussion will also address regulatory challenges, namely the need to align legislative frameworks with the development of new technologies in order to ensure equal access and the protection of users’ rights.
Within the panel, key questions will be addressed, such as: How can AI improve educational opportunities and employment for persons with disabilities? What are the specific challenges in integrating AI tools into educational systems for children with special needs? What obstacles exist in the development of such tools?
Panelists:
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Mirjana Isakov, Coordinator for Adult Education, SOŠO “Milan Petrović”
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Aleksandar Linc Đorđević, Director of the Data Science Conference and Member of the Government of the Republic of Serbia Council for Artificial Intelligence
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Đorđe Dimitrijević, Co-founder of the startup SignAvatar
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Uroš Mišljenović, Partners Serbia
From Code to Cure 3: Algorithms in a Test Tube – January 23, 2025
The first panel of this year within the AI Under the Stars series was held at the Science Club of the Center for the Promotion of Science, under the title “From Code to Cure 3: Algorithms in a Test Tube.” Together with the panel participants, we discussed the role that artificial intelligence plays in biotechnological innovations that are transforming the processes of discovering and testing new medicines. We also talked about the use of patients’ health data for research purposes, as well as the laws that regulate this field in Serbia.
Panelists:
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Ivana Mikić, Chief Executive Officer of Diffine
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Nikola Tešić, Bioinformatician at Velsera
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Dr. Branislava Gemović, Program Manager at the Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution
Moderator: Tanja Jakobi, Executive Director of the Public Policy Research Centre in Belgrade
AI and Art: Don’t Cross Me Out – November 7, 2024
Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly pushing boundaries not only in science, medicine, and the economy, but also in art. AI enables new forms of creative expression through the automation of repetitive tasks and the rapid generation of visual works, music, and design. In this way, it opens space for artistic practice even to those coming from other, non-artistic professions. However, this technological revolution also raises numerous questions—are AI-generated works truly creative, or do they merely imitate human work? Does the presence of AI in art lead to a loss of authenticity and the devaluation of artistic expression?
Through this panel, we aim to explore both the social and economic challenges that AI brings, such as issues of ownership over works generated by AI, as well as potential consequences for jobs in the creative industries.
Panelists:
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Predrag Terzić, Curator of the exhibition “Du bist wow” and Professor at the Faculty of Media and Communications
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Ivan Stanić, Curator at the Museum of Science and Technology in Belgrade
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Zoranka Desnica, Data Scientist
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Dobrivoje “Lale” Erić, Head of the International Cooperation Department at the Center for the Promotion of Science, National Coordinator for the EU Digital Deal, and Head of the Art+Science Program
Moderator: Anja Berić, Serbian Artificial Intelligence Society (SAIS)
Bonus! Before the panel, take a walk to the Museum of Science and Technology at 51 Dobračina Street and view the works of young artists—Selena Kučević, Vanja Ivanović, Luka Petrović, Mina Stojadinović, Jovan Stojković, and Anđelija Stančulović—who explored the impact of artificial intelligence on everyday life and our perception. Then, full of impressions, come to the panel.
The exhibition “Du bist wow” is a science–art experiment realized in collaboration between the Center for Research of Public Policies (Re:people), the Faculty of Media and Communications, and the Faculty of Mining and Geology, with the support of the Museum of Science and Technology.
From Code to Cure: Smart Diagnostics and AI – Early Disease Detection – June 13, 2024
Artificial intelligence (AI) plays a significant role in the early detection of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and other leading illnesses in Serbia and worldwide. This second episode in the series is dedicated to AI-assisted diagnostics in the early detection of cancer in Serbia.
We will discuss the following topics: How is AI changing the world of medicine and diagnostics? What are the latest initiatives and projects in Serbia in the field of early cancer detection? What are the main challenges and obstacles in applying AI in medical diagnostics? How can they be overcome to improve healthcare? What kind of regulatory framework do we need?
Panelists:
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Prof. Dr. Tatjana Lončar Turukalo, Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad
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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jasmina Boban, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad
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Dr. Vanja Švenda, Research Associate at the Research and Development Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Serbia
Moderator: Branka Anđelković, Co-founder and Program Director of the Public Policy Research Centre in Belgrade
(Dis)enchantment: What Skills Do We Need to Manage AI? – April 25, 2024
The second panel of this year is dedicated to new initiatives in the field of technology application whose capacity for social, political, and economic disruption is sparking controversy around the world.
According to a 2023 analysis by the consulting firm McKinsey, generative artificial intelligence (Large Language Models – LLMs) will reach average human performance by the end of the decade, and by 2040 will compete with the top 25% of the human workforce in performing many tasks—40 years faster than experts had previously predicted. Is this really the case, or will we, with the right knowledge and skills, successfully use LLMs in work processes ranging from STEM fields to the creative industries? Are we too enchanted by generative language models and artificial intelligence in general, overlooking the fact that human thought processes are far more complex than what AI offers—or, on the contrary, do we attribute greater importance to the human mind than it actually deserves? What do knowledge and skills have to do with this, and can education help us manage artificial intelligence successfully, rather than the other way around?
Panelists:
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Nebojša Vasiljević, Director of Artificial Intelligence, Petlja Foundation
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Dr. Danijela Šćepanović, Ministry of Education, Department for Digitalization in Education
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Dr. Aleksandar Baucal, Full Professor of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy
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Andrej Botka, Machine Learning Engineer, Sigmoid
Moderator: Tanja Jakobi, Executive Director of the Public Policy Research Centre
Guardians of Privacy and the Philosopher’s Stone: How to Regulate Artificial Intelligence – March 28, 2024
The panelists examined the conditions for the successful operationalization of the recently adopted Strategy for the Protection of Personal Data in Serbia for the period 2023–2030, in light of the ethical implications of the use of new technologies, as well as dilemmas surrounding the practical application of Serbia’s announced law on artificial intelligence.
Panelists:
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Danilo Krivokapić, Director of the SHARE Foundation
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Ivana Filimonović, Advisor in the Department for Supervision of Personal Data Protection
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Ana Toskić Cvetinović, Executive Director, Partners Serbia
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Igor Ćika, Director, PDCA Consulting Ltd.
Moderator: Tanja Jakobi, Executive Director of the Public Policy Research Centre
The Future of Work and AI: A Future Without Work? – November 9, 2023
The panelists discussed the sectors that will first feel the impact of artificial intelligence and automation in Serbia, the effects of hyper-technologized work on the fate of “female” and “male” professions, and much more.
Panelists:
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Vlado Delić, Professor at the Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad; Board Member, AlfaNum
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Stefan Badža, Advisor in the Office of the Prime Minister of Serbia
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Tanja Jakobi, Executive Director, Center for Research of Public Policies
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Marijana Agić Molnar, CEO and Data Strategist, DATA DO
Moderator: Branka Anđelković, Co-founder and Program Director, the Public Policy Research Centre, Belgrade
From Code to Cure: Medical Research with the Help of Artificial Intelligence – September 12, 2023
What lies behind innovative medical solutions that use artificial intelligence (AI)? What role does data availability play in setting priorities for medical research using AI? How does AI’s ability to analyze large databases and identify connections affect traditional medical approaches? This panel also addressed the ethical aspects of using data and making decisions in medical research. Key questions included: How are medical studies approved today? What is the role of ethics committees and regulatory agencies? What kind of regulations are needed to ensure transparency, integrity, and accountability in the use of AI in medical research?
Panelists:
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Danica Despotović, Data Scientist, Apneal
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Dragorad Milovanović, Professor, University of Belgrade
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Nevena Veljković, Scientific Advisor, Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences
Moderator: Branka Anđelković, Co-founder and Program Director, the Public Policy Research Centre, Belgrade
AI and the Public Interest: Possibilities and Limits of AI Use in the Public Sector – July 7, 2023
At the first café-panel, we discussed the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the public sector in Serbia and around the world. We explored the potential and limitations of this technology in optimizing governance, improving access to services, and setting new standards of accountability. In dialogue with experts in the field, we sought to answer the question of whether it is possible to direct AI toward the well-being of citizens and create the public sector we deserve—or whether this is merely an illusion. Watch the panel recording on YouTube and view photos on Flickr.
Panelists:
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Tiago C. Peixoto, Public Sector Expert, World Bank
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Slobodan Marković, Advisor for Digital Technologies, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Serbia
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Boban Stojanović, Full Professor, Institute of Mathematics and Informatics, Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac
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Branka Anđelković, Co-founder and Program Director, Center for Research of Public Policies, Belgrade
Moderator: Tanja Jakobi, Executive Director, the Public Policy Research Centre, Belgrade
BLOGS
Talkative Machines: Can AI Language Models Pass the Turing Test?
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues its rapid advancement, language models are becoming increasingly sophisticated and better at producing text that closely resembles human conversation. See whether the participants of our recent workshop were able to tell if they were talking to ChatGPT or another human being.
Author: Branka Anđelković