The AI & Economics Forum 2025, co-organized by the Young Economists Society of Uzbekistan (YESU), Dialogue E, the School of Economics, and ID, brought together leading experts, scholars, and practitioners to explore the transformative role of artificial intelligence in economics, labor markets, industry, and education. The Forum served as a platform for deep discussions on how AI is reshaping economic systems, workforce dynamics, and learning environments, while connecting students and professionals with thought leaders driving innovation across research, policy, and industry.

The Forum featured a distinguished lineup of speakers who brought diverse perspectives from academia, technology, and policy. Prof. Franz Hubert, Professor Emeritus at Humboldt University Berlin and a longtime contributor to Dialogue E, offered insights on the intersections of economics, policy, and international exchange. Vasiliy Burov, Chairman of WikiVote! and Co-founder of Information Culture, shared his expertise in digital economy, crowdsourcing technologies, and the broader societal impact of AI. Labor markets and regional economic perspectives were addressed by Vladimir Gimpelson, Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and IZA Research Fellow, whose research on post-socialist economies and global labor policy informs organizations such as the OECD, IMF, and World Bank.

Industrial applications of AI were highlighted by Bakyt Kaldybaev, AI Engineer at Volkswagen Group IT Solutions, who demonstrated how AI is integrated into modern industrial processes. Bugra Caskurlu, Associate Dean at the School of Computing at New Uzbekistan University, presented research on algorithms, multi-agent systems, and computational social choice, emphasizing AI’s influence on economic decision-making. The role of AI in education and skills development was explored by Qobiljon Yunusov, Education Technology Consultant at the Asian Development Bank and founder of Uzbekistan’s first Bloomberg Education Lab, who shared insights from his extensive experience in edtech and digital transformation.

By bringing together leading academics, industry professionals, and policy experts, the AI & Economics Forum 2025 provided participants with a comprehensive understanding of AI’s current and future impact on economic systems. It offered unique opportunities for students and young professionals to engage with experts, exchange ideas, and gain insights into emerging technologies and their applications in economics, education, and industry.