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The ability of machines to perform tasks that require human intelligence is artificial intelligence. This area can include learning, reasoning, problem-solving, language comprehension, and most importantly – pattern recognition. In recent decades, AI has experienced rapid growth, and thanks to parallel developments in technology and large amounts of data available for analysis, today AI can be used for endless purposes.

When we discuss global applications, AI is being developed in healthcare, personalized medicine, finance, smart buildings, or even entire cities, in traffic, for energy efficiency purposes, and much more. We are also witnessing the transformation of industry and everyday life, and the steps taken by companies in the region are smaller, but certainly not much behind compared to more technologically developed areas. The Balkan region, a region that, apart from ex-EU countries, also includes some other surrounding countries, is also experiencing growth in the application of artificial intelligence. We will focus on real examples and success stories of innovations that show how AI improves various aspects of society in the Balkans.

Growing health awareness

Although the average life expectancy in the Balkans, according to statistics, is lower than in EU countries, it seems that people have become more aware of the importance of prevention. In Serbia, scientists at the Institute for Research and Development of Artificial Intelligence (IVI) are using AI to develop advanced diagnostic tools and treatment plans, that aim to improve healthcare and patient outcomes across the region. These innovations include use of machine learning algorithms to analyze medical data, which enables faster and more accurate disease diagnosis. With the help of AI technologies, it is possible to detect cancer early through the analysis of medical images, thus increasing the chances of successful treatment. In addition, AI helps personalize therapies, tailoring treatment plans to the specific needs of each patient based on their unique medical data. This approach undoubtedly reduces healthcare costs by avoiding expensive tests and treatments.

Institutes like IVI are key to this effort, providing the research and development necessary to implement AI into everyday medical practice.

Southern troubles

Anyone who traveled by train in southern Serbia in the past, or from southern Serbia to the capital, knows how long they waited when the train derailed, the gas tank overturned or simply sat in the compartment for hours, driving 20 km/h.

The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Niš has developed the Autonomous System for Visual Inspection of Train Undercarriages (ATUVIS). This robot, driven by artificial intelligence, is designed to inspect the undercarriage of trains, thus reducing downtime and increasing safety. Traditionally, undercarriage inspections require trains to be taken out of service for several days, which can cause significant disruption to schedules and lost revenue.

ATUVIS uses advanced cameras and machine learning algorithms to examine the undercarriage of trains in detail while they are still in operation, reducing the need for human physical inspection. The system automatically generates reports on the condition of the chassis, identifying potential problems before they become serious. This approach improves not only maintenance efficiency but also significantly contributes to passenger safety.

The development of ATUVIS was possible thanks to significant support from the EU’s Proof of Concept (PoC) program, which provided funding for the research and development of this technology. The project covered all phases from prototype to market, including technical feasibility verification, patent protection, and business model definition.

Croatian agriculture story

An interesting story comes from Croatia, which is applying AI-based solutions to optimize agricultural practices, from predicting weather patterns to automating irrigation systems. These technologies contribute significantly to improving crop yields and sustainability in the region. The use of AI allows farmers to plan activities more precisely, thus reducing the risks associated with changing weather conditions and other unforeseen factors.

AI algorithms analyze large amounts of data from a variety of sources, including satellite imagery, meteorological data, and historical records.

Based on these analyses, AI can accurately predict weather conditions, helping farmers determine the best timing for sowing, harvesting, and other key activities. For example, if a dry period is predicted, farmers can prepare strategies in advance to conserve soil moisture. We have already written about how AI and agriculture go hand in hand.

Using soil moisture sensors and AI technologies, it is possible to automate irrigation systems to optimize water use. The AI ​​system monitors soil moisture levels and automatically adjusts the amount of water used for irrigation based on that. This approach not only saves water but also ensures that plants receive the optimal amount of water, resulting in healthier and more productive crops.

The Agrivi company is one of the more successful neighborhood examples of the combination of traditional and modern.

A journalist’s job is easier but comes with more responsibility

When AI appeared in the public sphere as a very accessible tool, many journalists rushed to say a second word on this topic, and even to make money from it through mentorships and digital pioneering. There is no doubt that certain tools can help with text generation, research, infographic creation, data sorting, and even fact-checking.

AI tools allow journalists to automate routine tasks such as transcribing interviews and searching large databases, saving time that can be devoted to deeper research and analysis.

Using AI to analyze data and recognize patterns helps identify fake news and improve reporting accuracy. AI can analyze vast amounts of data quickly and accurately, identifying relevant information that may be missed in manual analysis.

One of the more interesting concepts of the combination of digital technologies and journalism was created by the DigiTalk event, which is organized by the company Simplicity, whose expertise is precisely the combination of media credibility with the concept of modern technologies. This topic, like the next one, is still in its infancy in Serbia.

Books and education as the most important aspects of personal development

UNESCO has launched a series of projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina intending to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into education, providing workshops and webinars to train teachers on the effective use of AI in the classroom. This initiative emphasizes the importance of media and information literacy as well as ensuring a human-centric approach to AI in education. Through these programs, teachers gain the skills needed to use AI tools that can improve the educational process, such as personalized learning approaches and automated assessment of student achievement. The projects also help teachers develop critical thinking about the ethical implications of AI and how to use these technologies responsibly. These efforts contribute to the creation of an educational environment that is adapted to the digital era and ready to respond to the challenges of modern society.

Creating policies and programs aimed at both teachers and students for the ethical use of artificial intelligence would be the right answer to this new digital challenge in our education system.

Anđela Pepić, assistant professor, University of Banja Luka

Get rid of repetitive and tedious tasks

Only if you are visiting our blog for the first time, have you read something about our solution for Robotic Process Automation or RPA. RPA is a fast-growing technology that is revolutionizing the way businesses do business. How is this achieved? Our software automates routine, repetitive tasks – freeing employees to focus on more strategic and creative work. As a result, companies get greater employee efficiency, complete absence of work errors, cost reduction, and of course increased satisfaction of your partners and clients.

M&I Systems Group is one of the companies that has been actively using the advantages of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) for the past few years to bring its clients a solution for tedious and repetitive tasks, which must certainly be done, but much faster and more efficiently than earlier.

Some of the company’s internal processes, such as the entry and processing of invoices within the Beyond ERP system, the processing of employee data in the Beyond HR module, and the integration of timesheets have been automated with the help of RPA technology.

Smart cities

It is no secret that Slovenia, of all ex-Yugoslav states, was the most advanced even while it was a member of Yugoslavia. Therefore, it is not surprising that it is quite advanced in the concept of Smart cities.

A smart city is an urban area that uses various types of electronic devices and IoT sensors to collect data and use the insights gained from that data to effectively manage the city’s resources, services, and assets.

Smart cities in Slovenia, such as Ljubljana and Maribor, use artificial intelligence (AI) to improve various aspects of urban life, including traffic management, energy efficiency, and public safety. These initiatives aim to create more sustainable and pleasant urban environments.

AI is used to analyze and optimize traffic flows, which includes implementing smart traffic lights that can adjust the timing of light signals in real-time based on current traffic conditions. For example, in Ljubljana, AI is being used to reduce traffic congestion and improve flow, thereby reducing emissions and improving air quality.

In Maribor and other Slovenian cities, AI is being used to improve security through video surveillance analysis and recognition of behavioral patterns that may indicate potential criminal activity. These systems can automatically detect suspicious activities and notify the authorities, which enables a faster response and increases the safety of citizens.

Innovations in the Serbian language

An interesting story comes from Serbia, and it concerns language. Namely, the publishing house Librum, which approaches the topic of publishing differently than others, recently announced that it has created the first Serbian proofreading tool on Open AI. It is a great contribution to understanding the algorithm in Serbian, and it is intended for the Serbian language, spelling, and grammar.

Such initiatives are, without a doubt, a true reflection of preserving the heritage of one’s own country and people, without kitsch and populist approaches. If there isn’t enough Serbian language on the internet, it won’t exist at all, and that’s what the Librum team realized. Business ideas are sometimes not necessarily related to money, but money becomes a consequence of a quality idea. As the already adopted maxim reads – never start a business to make money, start it to make a change.

It seems that countries in the Balkans have finally begun to understand this.