From September 23 to 25, the 29th NT Conference is taking place, uniting technology experts and decision-makers from Slovenia and beyond.
"Artificial intelligence is fundamentally transforming industries by enhancing employee and customer services, optimizing business processes, and driving innovation," said Kristina Tikhonova, Microsoft’s General Director for Southeast Europe, during the conference's opening lecture.
According to Tikhonova, AI could contribute up to 11.5% of the gross domestic product in Southern Europe by 2030, emphasizing the importance of AI in improving productivity as a key focus of this year's conference.
She highlighted five key lessons learned from the rise of generative AI: the clear need for AI implementation, measurable return on investment in AI, the importance of ecosystem development, the necessity of data preparation for AI, and prioritizing security in AI initiatives.
Cybersecurity has also emerged as a crucial topic due to the increasing number of cyber threats and attacks. Tikhonova pointed out that cybercrime is now the third-largest global economy, generating $8 trillion annually and growing by 15% each year.
The NT Conference traditionally focuses on Microsoft tools and technologies, offering a platform for technology professionals to exchange best practices and for decision-makers to gain insights into critical business technologies.
An example of successful regional practice shared by Tikhonova was the case of Triglav Insurance, which transformed its operations using Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service and D365. This automation reduced manual tasks and costs while increasing satisfaction among both clients and employees.
Tikhonova also announced that Microsoft’s productivity tools will soon be available in Slovenian, which she believes will further open doors for local businesses to enhance their operations with AI.
Telekom Slovenije regularly participates in the NT Conference, providing exhibition space and communication solutions for participant engagement. This year, their exhibition focuses on private mobile networks, which offer high availability, reliability, and performance suitable for secure handling of critical data.
Many sessions addressed specific technological solutions relevant to IT professionals, including upcoming operating environments like Windows Server 2025 and programming languages such as C# 13.
The NT Conference also emphasized social responsibility, awarding 50 scholarships for one-year access to the advanced learning tool Astra AI to young individuals from underprivileged backgrounds, promoting understanding of complex mathematical concepts and encouraging independent learning.