Prof. Anis Sefidanis Presents GPT-SAO AI Smart Agent at the 25th Anniversary of the State Audit Office
On 27 November 2024, the State Audit Office of the Republic of North Macedonia marked a major institutional milestone: twenty-five years of work as the country’s independent “guardian of public funds”. To celebrate the anniversary, the State Audit Office hosted an international conference in Skopje under the theme “Exchange of experiences in the communication process of Supreme Audit Institutions with stakeholders – opportunities and challenges”, bringing together leaders of supreme audit institutions, experts from academia, civil society representatives, international partners and media professionals.dzr.mk+1
The conference focused on how modern supreme audit institutions can strengthen transparency, public trust and accountability by improving the way audit findings are communicated to citizens and decision-makers. In his opening address, Chief State Auditor Maksim Acevski highlighted that the mission of the State Audit Office is not only to detect irregularities, but to help institutions improve and to build a culture of responsibility. He stressed that strong partnerships, open dialogue and the use of innovative tools are essential if audit work is to translate into meaningful change for society. The jubilee was marked under the motto “25 years of dedication to the public interest – together we build trust, accountability and vision”, signalling a clear commitment to the future as well as to the past.dzr.mk+1
The programme was structured around several discussion blocks that examined transparency, communication and innovation in public-sector auditing. The first discussion explored why clear and timely communication of audit findings is a precondition for trust in institutions and for effective follow-up by parliaments, governments and the public. A second segment focused on new communication tools and digital technologies that can help translate complex audit reports into accessible messages and services for citizens. A third panel emphasised the importance of cooperation between audit institutions, public bodies, civil society and international partners, underlining that accountability in the public sector is a shared responsibility rather than the task of a single institution.dzr.mk
Within this context, Prof. Anis Sefidanis, PhD – professor of Artificial Intelligence & Robotics at the University of Information Science and Technology “St. Paul the Apostle” (UIST) and founder of Sefidanis Research & Development – participated as a panelist representing AITMIR and UIST. According to the University’s report on the event, Prof. Sefidanis presented his research project GPT-SAO, described as an AI-based smart agent concept designed specifically for the State Audit Office.uist.edu.mk+2uist.edu.mk+2
GPT-SAO is envisioned as a generative AI assistant that can help citizens, journalists and institutional stakeholders navigate the growing volume of public-sector audit information. Based on the description in the UIST news and Prof. Sefidanis’ professional profile, the concept aims to use advanced language models to interact with users in natural language, guide them through audit reports and key findings, and make complex financial and legal information more understandable and usable for non-experts.uist.edu.mk+1 By aligning artificial intelligence with the rigorous methodologies of the State Audit Office, GPT-SAO illustrates how deep-tech solutions can support transparency, evidence-based decision-making and citizen engagement.
The panel in which Prof. Sefidanis took part was dedicated to innovative communication tools and technologies. In the visual material published from the conference, the panelists are shown discussing how supreme audit institutions can better connect their work to the everyday concerns of people, including through digital platforms, interactive visualisations and AI-driven services.uist.edu.mk GPT-SAO fits exactly in this direction: it is conceived as a bridge between highly specialised audit knowledge and the public’s right to clear, accessible information about how public money is spent.
The 25th Anniversary conference also had an important international dimension. The State Audit Office underlined that the event, organised with partial support from EUROSAI, gathered representatives from a wide range of European supreme audit institutions and professional organisations.dzr.mk In parallel, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) highlighted the anniversary in its own review of 2024 activities, noting that its international team attended the celebration in Skopje as part of efforts to strengthen global ties in public-sector auditing and to support capacity-building in the region.cipfa.org+1
The anniversary year was also marked by broader recognition of the State Audit Office’s integrity and role in the national accountability system. In 2024, Transparency International’s national assessment ranked the State Audit Office as a top-performing institution within North Macedonia’s National Integrity System, underscoring its importance as an independent watchdog over public funds and as a key actor in building public trust.Instagram+2Instagram+2 Against this backdrop, the presentation of GPT-SAO at the jubilee conference positioned artificial intelligence not as a threat, but as a powerful ally to institutions that already have strong legal mandates and professional standards.
For Sefidanis, the invitation to contribute to the 25th Anniversary of the State Audit Office is a continuation of his wider mission: to use deep-tech, AI and robotics to serve the public interest, whether through culture-tech projects, humanoid robots, telemedicine solutions or AI systems for public administration. By working directly with a supreme audit institution that has proven its commitment to transparency and accountability, the GPT-SAO concept demonstrates how research and innovation can move beyond the laboratory and into the core of democratic governance.
The conference in Skopje closed with a clear message: the next twenty-five years of public-sector auditing will be defined not only by laws and standards, but by the ability of institutions to communicate, collaborate and innovate. Through GPT-SAO and related initiatives, Sefidanis aims to be an active partner in that transformation, helping the State Audit Office and other public bodies harness the potential of artificial intelligence to protect public funds and strengthen citizens’ trust.
References / sources and original publication dates
State Audit Office of the Republic of North Macedonia, “Conference on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the State Audit Office”, official website article, published 29 November 2024 (describing the conference held on 27 November 2024). dzr.mk
Racin.mk, “The State Audit Office celebrated 25 years of existence” (in Macedonian), news report on the jubilee conference and address by Chief State Auditor Maksim Acevski, published 27 November 2024. Рацин.мк
University of Information Science and Technology “St. Paul the Apostle” (UIST), “Prof. Sefidanis from UIST, a panelist at the 25th Anniversary of the SAO” (news item; currently partially accessible via cached search results), published 3 December 2024. uist.edu.mk+1
Anis Sefidanis, PhD – LinkedIn profile, sections describing his role as professor of Artificial Intelligence & Robotics at UIST and his GPT-SAO AI smart-agent concept, accessed December 2025. LinkedIn
CIPFA, “Strengthening Global Ties: CIPFA International’s Impact in North Macedonia and Albania”, CIPFA Thinks article summarised via public search and LinkedIn promotion, referencing CIPFA’s participation in the 25th Anniversary of the State Audit Office; original article published in 2024 (exact day not accessible via open sources). cipfa.org+1
State Audit Office of the Republic of North Macedonia – social and web communications on its role and integrity ranking in 2024, including references to being the top-ranked institution in the National Integrity System and to its mandate as an independent supreme audit institution, accessed December 2025. Instagram+3dzr.mk+3dzr.mk+3
