‘Services Must Be Flexible’: How Governments Can Use Artificial Intelligence
The HSE International Laboratory for Digital Transformation in Public Administration held a roundtable titled ‘Artificial Intelligence in Public Administration: Current Trends.’ Scholars from Israel, China, and Russia discussed which public services AI can enhance and what key factors must be considered when adopting new technologies.
Eran Vigoda-Gadot
Artificial intelligence is now capable of performing many tasks traditionally handled by humans, noted Prof. Eran Vigoda-Gadot from the Division of Public Administration and Policy at the University of Haifa in his talk on the potential of AI. He shared some global insights into the use of AI: ‘The global AI market was valued at approximately $150.2 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $407 billion by 2027, with an annual growth rate of over 36%,’ he noted. And this is not the limit for AI development.
According to expert forecasts, AI could reach a market value of $1.8 trillion by 2030. Already, nearly 77% of devices utilise AI in one form or another—from voice assistants like Siri to content recommendations on social media platforms. AI is making a real breakthrough in voice search, with over 40% of mobile device users already taking advantage of this feature, said Eran Vigoda-Gadot.
Looking ahead, AI is expected to automate up to 70% of routine tasks currently carried out by people. However, this is also likely to create new job opportunities for those involved in managing and developing AI systems. ‘AI is hard to avoid!’ declared Professor Eran Vigoda-Gadot, encouraging its use in research. However, he added, it is crucial to pose the right questions and select appropriate tools to make effective use of AI.
Chen Tao
Prof. Chen Tao from the College of Public Administration at Huazhong University of Science and Technology noted a growing interest in AI and its application in the public sector. The implementation of AI has led to improvements in the quality of public services. For example, AI helps accelerate administrative processes. ‘AI-powered chatbots respond to queries in real time and provide immediate feedback, thereby bringing governments closer to the public,’ said Prof. Chen. Moreover, the use of big data enables the public sector to make more balanced and accurate decisions.
Chinese AI labs have reached the level of their American counterparts, Prof. Chen stated. Significant progress has been observed with the release of DeepSeek, a Chinese neural network based on an open-source large language model. According to him, modern Chinese AI models now demonstrate built-in logical reasoning and produce more coherent responses.
The open-source nature of DeepSeek offers several advantages, including reduced development costs and improved energy efficiency compared to its counterparts. Professor Chen Tao emphasised the significance of this, noting that the high energy consumption of many current AI models contributes to increased carbon emissions and has a negative environmental impact. In contrast, DeepSeek represents a more environmentally sustainable approach to AI development.
Evgeny Styrin
Evgeny Styrin, Head of the HSE International Laboratory for Digital Transformation in Public Administration, stressed the importance of a value-based approach when implementing new technologies. He used banking chatbots as an example. While digital channels offer convenience for resolving customer issues, there is also a downside. In the banking sector, the frustration caused by time-consuming interactions with chatbots can outweigh the benefits of remote service. In many cases, personal communication and an apology from a bank employee are more effective in resolving conflicts than similar actions carried out by a machine.
According to Evgeny Styrin, a value-based approach should take into account the generational characteristics of users—including generations X, Y (millennials), Z, and Alpha—when developing digital banking services. ‘Different generations have different preferences. That is why services must be flexible,’ he explained.
This perspective is supported by research from Siqi Li, a PhD student at the School of Public Administration at Huazhong University of Science and Technology. She noted that AI technologies have been increasingly adopted in the public sector in recent years, particularly in the shift from human interaction to robot-assisted communication. However, surveys of citizens who have engaged with both human staff and service robots at Chinese public service centres revealed a clear trend: in some cases, people are willing to queue in order to receive standard services from a human rather than a robot.
See also:
School Students Master Communication with GigaChat at HSE and Sber Hackathon
In late December 2025, a unique competition was held at HSE University where participants solved challenges not by writing code, but solely by interacting with Sber’s GigaChat artificial intelligence model. The Improm(p)tu hackathon was an experiment less about programming skills than a new form of literacy: the ability to work effectively with AI by translating complex problems into a language neural networks can understand.
When a Virus Steps on a Mine: Ancient Mechanism of Infected Cell Self-Destruction Discovered
When a virus enters a cell, it disrupts the cell’s normal functions. It was previously believed that the cell's protective response to the virus triggered cellular self-destruction. However, a study involving bioinformatics researchers at HSE University has revealed a different mechanism: the cell does not react to the virus itself but to its own transcripts, which become abnormally long. The study has been published in Nature.
Artificial Intelligence Transforms Employment in Russian Companies
Russian enterprises rank among the world’s top ten leaders in AI adoption. In 2023, nearly one-third of domestic companies reported using artificial intelligence. According to a new study by Larisa Smirnykh, Professor at the HSE Faculty of Economic Sciences, the impact of digitalisation on employment is uneven: while the introduction of AI in small and large enterprises led to a reduction in the number of employees, in medium-sized companies, on the contrary, it contributed to job growth. The article has been published in Voprosy Ekonomiki.
HSE Seeks New Ideas for AI Agents: Initiative Competition Launched
HSE University is inviting researchers and lecturers to present concepts for new digital products based on artificial intelligence. The best projects will receive expert and technological support. Applications are open until December 19, 2025.
Final of International Yandex–HSE Olympiad in AI and Data Analysis Held at HSE University
Yandex Education and the HSE Faculty of Computer Science have announced the results of the international AIDAO (Artificial Intelligence and Data Analysis Olympiad) competition. Students from 14 countries took part. For the second year in a row, first place went to the team AI Capybara, which developed the most accurate AI model for an autonomous vehicle vision system.
AI Lingua Included in Compilation of Best International AI Practices in Higher Education
HSE University has been acknowledged internationally for its pioneering efforts in integrating artificial intelligence into higher education. The AI Lingua Neural Network developed at HSE was included in the renowned international collection ‘The Global Development of AI-Empowered Higher Education: Beyond the Horizon.’ The compilation was prepared by the Institute of Education (IOE) of Tsinghua University with the support of the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China and a global advisory committee, which included experts from Oxford, UCL, Sorbonne, Stanford, and other leading academic centres.
IDLab: Fascinating Research, Tough Deadlines, and Academic Drive
The International Laboratory of Intangible-driven Economy (IDLab) was established at the HSE campus in Perm 11 years ago. Its expertise in data processing and analysis allows researchers to combine fundamental studies with applied projects, including the development of risk and cybersecurity models for Sber. The head of the laboratory, Professor Petr Parshakov, and Senior Research Fellow Professor Mariya Molodchik spoke to the HSE News Service about IDLab’s work.
Technological Breakthrough: Research by AI and Digital Science Institute Recognised at AI Journey 2025
Researchers from the AI and Digital Science Institute (part of the HSE Faculty of Computer Science) presented cutting-edge AI studies, noted for their scientific novelty and practical relevance, at the AI Journey 2025 International Conference. A research project by Maxim Rakhuba, Head of the Laboratory for Matrix and Tensor Methods in Machine Learning, received the AI Leaders 2025 award. Aibek Alanov, Head of the Centre of Deep Learning and Bayesian Methods, was among the finalists.
HSE Psycholinguists Launch Digital Tool to Spot Dyslexia in Children
Specialists from HSE University's Centre for Language and Brain have introduced LexiMetr, a new digital tool for diagnosing dyslexia in primary school students. This is the first standardised application in Russia that enables fast and reliable assessment of children’s reading skills to identify dyslexia or the risk of developing it. The application is available on the RuStore platform and runs on Android tablets.
HSE University to Join Physical AI Garage Project by Yandex
Yandex is collaborating with leading Russian universities to launch a new educational programme called Physical AI Garage. This initiative unites five universities—HSE University, ITMO, MIPT, MAI, and MEPhI—to train future professionals in physical artificial intelligence by tackling real-world industrial challenges. The programme is free, and participants will receive scholarships.