II EFEF in Shanghai: Managerial AI as the Next Frontier of Digitalization in Eurasia
The II Eurasian Financial and Economic Forum, which convened governmental institutions, business associations, and financial organizations from Russia, CIS, EAEU, China, and ASEAN, centered on the theme of digital transformation of managerial labor. Jimsher Chelidze delivered a presentation and introduced a novel class of artificial intelligence products - specialized systems tailored for managerial use during the expert session titled "Introduction of Innovations and Technologies of Robotics in the Economies of Eurasian Countries," moderated by Alexander Melerzanov, Head of the FBA EAC Committee on Science and Education.
The forum, which was held under the theme "Eurasia: A Space of Trust and Sustainable Cooperation," traditionally centered on issues of industrial collaboration, standardization, and technological sovereignty. During the session on innovation, the importance of shifting the focus from production automation to decision-making automation was underscored. The report indicated that the global landscape is evolving at an accelerated pace, with technological cycles compressing from a decade to two or three years. Consequently, leadership positions are maintained by entities that can make superior decisions at a faster rate. The market for physical automation and industrial robots is projected to reach $36 trillion by 2033 and is already a priority for the EAEU and BRICS economic blocs. The logical progression from this is the automation of managerial processes, which entails the integration of AI into the operations of senior executives. McKinsey estimates that the automation potential in this area could encompass up to 53% of a manager's operational activities. Additionally, the speaker highlighted the rapid expansion of the AI market in the Asia-Pacific region, which is forecasted to reach $816 billion by 2032.
Jimsher Chelidze, founder and CEO of Chelidze and Partners, an expert and methodologist in the field of AI and digitalization, drew the attention of the forum participants to a paradoxical situation. We are living in a world of change and rapid technological development. This creates both opportunities and risks. The key factor for success in this new world is the quality of management and decision-making by leaders. However, leaders are constantly overloaded and focused on operational tasks, with up to 80% of their time consumed by meetings and routine operations. As a result, this leads to a loss of focus on strategic tasks and personal development, resulting in burnout and overwork. As a consequence, leaders make key decisions too late, and sometimes the decisions themselves are of poor quality, reducing the organization's adaptability and limiting the leader's own capabilities. Companies that fail to adapt to the increasing pace of change lose their competitive edge in months rather than years.
During the presentation, an alternative was proposed to the common approach of using general-purpose chatbots for AI implementation. It was noted that such tools require advanced AI interaction skills from the manager, do not provide repeatability of results and protection against hallucinations, as work is carried out “from scratch” every time. At the same time, they do not create management discipline, which is critical precisely in conditions of high workload. Jimsher Chelidze emphasized that it is when a manager is overloaded that they are least able to master new tools that require methodical approach.
As an alternative, an approach based on creating recommendation systems with embedded methodology was presented. The presentation provided a comparison: while chatbots require high user competence and lack business context memory, and CRM and task trackers capture data but do not analyze it, a specialized AI assistant should include ready-made management techniques such as OKR goals, project management, monthly and weekly planning, prioritization, and delegation in the interface. AI should be embedded in the context to ensure repeatability and transparency of work, and to form the necessary habits. Jimsher Chelidze presented the "Manager Assistant" product, which combines three functional blocks: regular activities, including day and week planning, recording results, and retrospective analysis; project management, including control points, statuses, and risks; and strategy and personal development, which focuses on the development of the manager through practice and the formation of habits. This approach results in order in regular activities, a focus on strategy, and protection against burnout.
In the context of the forum's overall agenda, which includes creating a unified trust environment, protecting intellectual property, and promoting industrial cooperation, the speaker emphasized that the digitalization of management work is a competitive advantage for Eurasian countries. In conclusion, Jimsher Chelidze expressed his readiness for three formats of interaction with the forum's participants: launching pilot projects for joint system testing, sharing best management and technical practices from different markets to enhance the methodology, and partnering in localization and distribution in the markets of Russia, the CIS, China, and ASEAN. The final thesis of the report was the following: "AI is not a substitute for a manager, but rather an amplifier of their decisions."
The II Eurasian Financial and Economic Forum in Shanghai was held from April 19 to 23, 2026. The program included sessions on financial infrastructure, intellectual property protection, industrial cooperation, and humanitarian projects. The forum confirmed its status as a key platform for developing practical mechanisms for cooperation between Russia, the EAEU countries, and China.