Professor Anis Sefidanis brings AI and Transhumanism to the 19th MASIT Annual Conference
At the end of October 2024, the Macedonian ICT Chamber of Commerce MASIT held its 19th Annual Conference in Skopje, turning the Alexander Palace hotel into a regional hub for artificial intelligence, innovation and digital transformation. Over two intensive days, 29 and 30 October, the conference focused first on the relationship between AI and the future of work, and then on the practical application of AI in medicine, pharmacy and dentistry. Within this carefully curated programme, Professor Anis Sefidanis played a prominent role as keynote speaker and thought leader, representing both the University of Information Science and Technology “St. Paul the Apostle” in Ohrid and the Sefidanis Centre for Research & Development of Exponential Technologies. MASIT+2Емитер+2
The conference was framed by MASIT as a strategic platform where government, academia, business and international partners could openly discuss how artificial intelligence is reshaping the labour market, industry and society. MASIT’s official report on the event describes a two-day programme filled with high-profile speakers, panel discussions and networking, under the overarching themes “Artificial Intelligence versus the Workforce – from Adaptation to Innovation” for the first day and “Practical Application of AI in Medicine, Pharmacy and Dentistry” for the second. MASIT+1
On the opening day, dedicated to AI and the future of work, media coverage by Emiter highlights that the conference placed artificial intelligence “in focus”, examining how it is redefining the IT labour market and which new skills and roles are emerging. The same coverage notes that Professor Sefidanis, from the Faculty of Machine Intelligence and Robotics at UIST in Ohrid, spoke on the topic “AI – the last art of humanity and how AI affects the redefining of human potential.” Емитер+1 In this session he invited the audience to think of AI not only as a technical tool, but as a creative and cultural force that challenges long-held assumptions about human uniqueness. Rather than framing AI purely as a threat to jobs, his contribution encouraged a conversation about how human creativity, ethics and empathy can remain at the centre of technological progress, even as generative systems and autonomous machines become more capable.
The UIST announcement “Professor Sefidanis at the 19th Annual MASIT Conference” further emphasises his dual role as academic and innovator, underlining that he represented the Faculty of Machine Intelligence and Robotics as well as the Sefidanis Centre for Research & Development of Exponential Technologies. The announcement points to his talks under the titles “Artificial Intelligence: Humanity’s Last Art?” and “Artificial Intelligence and Transhumanism: How Do We Redefine Human Potential?”, underscoring the philosophical and future-oriented nature of his contribution to the conference agenda. UIST+2Instagram+2 In line with his broader work, these sessions positioned AI as both a technological and a humanistic project, raising questions about identity, creativity and the long-term trajectory of human–machine co-evolution.
The second day of the conference, held on 30 October 2024, shifted the focus decisively toward healthcare. MASIT’s detailed report on the event describes a premium regional gathering titled “Practical Application of AI in Medicine, Pharmacy and Dentistry”, attended by more than 250 guests from the ICT industry, hospitals, clinics, pharmaceutical companies and related sectors. MASIT The programme brought together international and local experts, including colorectal surgeon Prof. Sam Atallah from the University of Central Florida, the 3DLoom team on AI-driven 3D printed surgical models, bioinformatician Dr. Anela Tosevska on AI in genetics and personalised medicine, and leading Macedonian pharmaceutical researchers on AI-enabled drug development and big-data-driven therapies. MASIT+1
Within this healthcare-focused second day, Professor Sefidanis delivered a keynote lecture under the title “Artificial Intelligence and Transhumanism: How to Redefine Human Potential?”. MASIT’s official summary notes that his talk challenged participants to think about the future of technology and its interaction with human capabilities, encouraging reflection on enhancement, augmentation and the ethical boundaries of transhumanism. MASIT+1 Drawing on his experience in humanoid robotics, immersive systems and AI-driven interaction, he explored how advanced technologies might extend cognition, embodiment and creativity, while insisting that such developments must remain anchored in responsibility, empathy and human dignity.
The announcement of the healthcare day on the national news portal MKD.mk adds a further dimension to the story. It presents the event as the “first regional premium event” dedicated to AI in medicine, pharmacy and dentistry and highlights that the programme included a special appearance by Alshar, the world’s first humanoid DJ robot created by Professor Sefidanis. According to this announcement, Alshar was scheduled not only to perform as DJ during the networking lunch, but also to serve as a live demonstration of how AI, robotics and real-time generative systems can be combined into a novel form of human-machine collaboration. МКД.МК+1 In this way, Sefidanis’ work bridged the conceptual themes of his talks on AI, art and transhumanism with a tangible, interactive example that brought those ideas to life for conference participants.
MASIT’s own social-media communication reinforces this narrative. In posts on LinkedIn and other platforms, the Chamber presents Professor Sefidanis as a keynote guest whose work “explores the boundaries of technology and human interaction,” noting his role as founder of the Centre for Research and Development of Exponential Technologies and emphasising Alshar as a pioneering humanoid robot capable of creating music in real time. LinkedIn+2Facebook+2 These announcements frame his presence at the conference as an opportunity for the audience to “peek into the future” of AI-driven experiences through his perspective and projects.
Taken together, the official MASIT reports, independent media coverage and UIST communications paint a coherent picture: at the 19th Annual MASIT Conference, Professor Anis Sefidanis helped connect high-level strategic discussions on AI policy and labour with cutting-edge applications in healthcare and visionary reflections on transhumanism and creativity. For Sefidanis, this participation was fully aligned with the mission of his research and development centre and the broader Sefidanis ecosystem: to operate at the frontier where deep tech, robotics, digital health and cultural innovation meet, and to ensure that the rapid evolution of AI remains anchored in human values and social benefit. MASIT+2MASIT+2
References and original publication dates
Professor Sefidanis at the 19th Annual MASIT Conference, University of Information Science and Technology “St. Paul the Apostle” – Ohrid, published 25 October 2024. Available at: https://uist.edu.mk/masit-conference/ UIST+1
Се одржа 19-тата традиционална Годишна Конференција на МАСИТ, MASIT – ICT Chamber of Commerce, published 4 November 2024. Available at: https://masit.org.mk/news-mk/%D1%81%D0%B5-%D0%BE%D0%B4%D1%80%D0%B6%D0%B0-19-%D1%82%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B0-%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%B8%D1%86%D0%B8%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%B3%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B8%D1%88%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%BA/ MASIT+1
Практична примена на AI во медицината, фармацијата и стоматологијата – Се реализираше вториот ден од 19-тата годишна конференција на МАСИТ, MASIT – ICT Chamber of Commerce, published 5 November 2024. Available at: https://masit.org.mk/news-mk/%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%BD%D0%B0-ai-%D0%B2%D0%BE-%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%B8%D1%86%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B0-%D1%84/ MASIT+1
Вештачката интелигенција во фокусот на годишната конференција на МАСИТ, Emiter magazine, published 29 October 2024. Available at: https://emiter.com.mk/vesti/21159 Емитер
Прв регионален премиум настан за примената на ВИ во медицината, фармацијата и стоматологијата, MKD.mk, published 28 October 2024. Available at: https://mkd.mk/makedonija/prv-regionalen-premium-nastan-za-primenata-na-vi-vo-medicinata-farmacijata-i-stomatologijata/ МКД.МК
MASIT social-media announcements introducing Prof. Dr. Anis Sefidanis as keynote speaker at the 19th Annual MASIT Conference and presenting the humanoid DJ robot Alshar, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram posts, published October 2024. LinkedIn+2Facebook+2
