The future of Artificial Intelligence and the impact of this technology on different areas of human activity were discussed at an international seminar held at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences on 30 November. The Vice-President of BAS Corr. Memb. Stefan Hadjitodorov and the Ambassador of Spain H.E. Alejandro Polanco opened the forum. The extremely rapid proliferation of systems based on Artificial Intelligence requires a good analysis of their capabilities and limitations, understanding of the legal, organisational and managerial issues involved, and optimisation of the relationship between their development and deployment in practice. Well-known Bulgarian and Spanish analysts participated in the discussion. Prof. Kiril Simov from the Institute of Information and Communication Technologies of BAS outlined the history, principles, possibilities and limitations of Artificial Intelligence. [...]

Scientists from the Institute of Information and Communication Technologies of BAS presented the possibilities of state-of-the-art tools for 3D digitalization to the Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Iliana Ivanova. 3D models obtained by laser scanning, close-range and aerial photogrammetry methods were demonstrated. The scientists also showed the Commissioner virtual interactive scenes with models of authentic folk costumes from the collection of the National Ethnographic Museum as well as three-dimensional models of archaeological sites. During the visit, the researchers also presented how the laser scanning and computed tomography systems work, as well as the results of research conducted with them. The scientific infrastructure is part of the 3D Digitization and Microstructural Analysis Laboratory of the Center of Excellence in Computer Science and Information [...]

The Governing Council of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences awarded with an honorary medal "Marin Drinov" on a ribbon Corr. Memb. Svetozar Margenov, Director of the Institute of Information and Communication Technologies of BAS (IICT). The award was presented by the President of the Academy Prof. Julian Revalski, Full Member of BAS, at an official celebration. The honour is awarded for the contribution of Corr. Memb. Margenov to the development of Bulgarian science, as well as on the occasion of his 70th anniversary. Corr. Memb. Svetozar Margenov is a scientist with international reputation and recognition in the field of numerical methods, mathematical and computer modeling and parallel algorithms. He is the author of more than 200 scientific publications in peer-reviewed international scientific journals, including 2 [...]