AI as a Helper, Humans as Decision-Makers: Global Digital Forum Explores the Role of AI
Many people believe that artificial intelligence is now “in its prime,” taking over virtually every area of life. That impression may indeed arise for a casual observer watching the rapid pace of digitalization. Experts, however, see things differently.
Evgeny Chereshnev, Senior Vice President of Sistema PJSFC, says: “We are only at the beginning of the journey.” He made the point during the “AI Agent Economy: What Happens When AI Takes the Lead” lecture, held as part of the business program of the 2nd Global Digital Forum on October 8 at the Mechta venue in Moscow’s Gorky Park.
The speaker drew an analogy with electricity. The world’s first power plant was built in 1882, and it took more than 40 years for electrification to fully reach factories and the homes of most people.
AI: Participant or Tool
According to the expert, although AI is still in its early stages, its capabilities can already seem not only limitless but frightening.
Humanity has already grown accustomed to some things. Few people are surprised anymore by coffee deliveries and ride-hailing services that operate without human involvement. It is even possible to build, or more precisely “print,” a house without construction workers, at a fraction of the cost and in much less time. But there are negative aspects as well. In particular, the technology is having a serious impact on certain segments of the labor market, Evgeny Chereshnev noted. The economy is growing while the number of workers is declining because AI is taking over their functions. Microsoft alone recorded 40 million AI agents in July and August this year. Some even have their own email addresses, phone numbers and voices, making them virtually impossible to identify as artificial. In 2025, the corporation posted a record revenue of nearly $102 billion while cutting about 15,000 corporate positions.
A company with billions of dollars in revenue and a single employee is no longer science fiction and could emerge as early as 2028, the speaker believes. At Amazon, for example, one million robots work alongside 1.5 million employees.
But the main danger lies not in the number of AI agents, but in what they can do, Chereshnev emphasized. By analyzing vast amounts of data in ways the human brain cannot, robots can do more than simply follow commands. They can also make decisions on their own. The key challenge for humanity, therefore, is to keep AI within the boundaries of its original purpose: a powerful but obedient tool. Given the right prompts, it can do remarkable things. But who can come up with those right prompts? Only a competent human who can think outside the box. There are few such people, and they will be in high demand in the future.
“The more unique a person’s life path, the better their chances of surviving in the AI era. The first things to be optimized are those that can be done at scale,” the expert said.
What to Do
Evgeny Chereshnev noted that companies seeking to establish a strong position in the market should focus not on making a profit, but on creating something new. Resources should be invested not in copies, but in ideas and in creating things that do not yet exist. The global community is now facing a shortage of people who can create. Companies also need to build alliances between markets rather than duplicate one another’s efforts and invest in corporate training. Companies with strong reputations, loyal customer bases and infrastructure projects will remain resilient because these are things that cannot simply be copied.
New Threat or New Opportunities
Another worrying aspect is that not everyone understands that artificial intelligence is not just a technology, but also infrastructure that consumes enormous amounts of energy. By 2030, data centers will require 950 TWh, more than the entire amount of electricity consumed by Japan. By 2035, that figure will reach 1,200 TWh.
“We need nuclear fusion,” Chereshnev said, identifying it as a key condition for the future efficiency of data centers. But not every country has the capacity to develop such technologies. That is why the expert compares countries with advanced AI capabilities to a kind of “nuclear club” that could give rise to a form of neocolonialism.
Decisions Remain With Humans
Today’s AI agents can analyze vast amounts of data, set intermediate tasks on their own, choose the most effective ways to complete them and, most importantly, interact with other systems. Yet for now, humans are still the ones who make decisions and create something unique. Virtually all knowledge is now available online, but professions such as teaching, scientific research and invention will not disappear. Teachers should inspire people to acquire knowledge and create new things, Chereshnev emphasized in response to a question from a guest from Indonesia about the role of teachers in the modern world.
“Let’s keep moving forward without stopping,” Evgeny Chereshnev concluded.
