The development of artificial intelligence and its vulnerabilities are discussed at SPIEF 2026

On the first day of the 29th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) on June 3, the first agreements were signed and discussions were held on key issues of economic and technological development. Artificial intelligence (AI) has become one of the main topics of SPIEF 2026.

The participants discuss not only its capabilities, but also the potential risks associated with the development of digital technologies. According to Izvestia correspondent Nikolai Ivanov, numerous developments in the field of AI and robotics were presented at the forum.

In particular, Bashkortostan demonstrated the interactive tree "Share", a neural network capable of answering user questions. Also, the attention of the guests is attracted by anthropomorphic robots and robotic systems, which until recently could only be seen in science fiction.

"Eyes are running away, who to pay attention to: either the robobuck, or the anthropomorphic robots. Here they are dancing, this one has a fighting stance, obviously. I almost missed it, a dangerous guy," the correspondent added.

Special attention was paid at the forum to the issues of the digital environment for children and adolescents. Experts noted that more than 90% of Russian children start using the Internet from the age of four, so high-quality family content is of particular importance. As an example, the Russian animation project "Three Cats" was cited, which is popular not only in Russia but also abroad.

Svetlana Balanova, CEO of the National Media Group (NMG), emphasized that domestic content is becoming more and more in demand among different age groups around the world.

"Three cats" are seen all over the world and are very popular. Russian content is increasingly in demand by children, adults, and teenagers alike. The intersection of these environments is very large," Balanova said.

A significant part of the discussions is devoted to the development of digital infrastructure. Within the framework of the forum, a memorandum was signed according to which ROSSIYA Joint Stock Bank will assist in the implementation of digital transformation projects in new regions of the country. In particular, it is planned to build about 4 thousand new communication base stations.

Forum people: which countries' delegations will definitely come to SPIEF 2026

The stabilization of the oil market may become one of the key topics of discussion in St. Petersburg.

At the same time, SPIEF participants are discussing information security issues. Technologies for protecting critical infrastructure from cyber attacks and threats related to the use of artificial intelligence are presented at the exhibition sites.

The forum also included discussions on global information policy and the international agenda. The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, stated the need to counter attempts to form a one-sided picture of the world in the international information space.

Mixed martial arts fighter Jeff Monson, who regularly visits Donbass, also shared his opinion. According to him, Western audiences often receive limited information about current events.

German journalist Hubert Seipel was among the participants of the forum. He noted that he faces criticism at home for traveling to Russia, but considers it important to maintain the opportunity for an open dialogue and exchange of views.

Despite the ongoing international tensions, SPIEF 2026 has once again become a platform for communication between representatives of different countries. The forum is attended by European and American politicians, entrepreneurs and journalists who discuss the prospects for cooperation and the development of the global economy.

Contract time: deals worth 6.5 trillion may be concluded at SPIEF 2026

The amount will be comparable to last year's amount against the background of high rates — it is the issues of business growth that will become the main topics of discussion.

Leonid Sergeev, CEO of Northern Capital Air Gate LLC, told Izvestia on the same day that AI helps Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg manage passenger traffic, services and commercial areas. When registering using biometrics, the system puts a "tag" on a person, which does not disclose personal data, but allows you to track the time of passing through various stages — inspection, registration, passport control.