How AI is changing pediatrics: A view from Split

On Thursday, October 2, 2025, the University of Split School of Medicine briefly became the center of discussions about the future of medicine. CroAI, TIS Grupa, and AI4Health brought together experts from healthcare, technology, and science at a meetup titled “Innovation Shaping the Future of Pediatrics,” focusing on a topic that is both technologically and humanly significant—how artificial intelligence can help children receive the best possible care from the very beginning of life.

Participants discussed the SENDD AI system, an innovation that harnesses the power of artificial intelligence to analyze infants’ spontaneous movements and detect early signs of neurodevelopmental deviations. Project lead Dr. Goran Krakar explained how digitalized motion assessment can offer a window into a child’s development, enabling specialists to identify potential risks much earlier than before. Tomislav Strgar from TIS Grupa presented the technical side of the project, giving participants a look “behind the click” that powers the AI module within the SENDD system and generates a motion analysis.

Following the introductory presentations, a panel discussion titled “Innovations Shaping the Future of Pediatrics” took place, moderated by Nina Popović from the CroAI association. On stage were Dr. Anita Ursić, Dr. Goran Krakar, Jovan Stevović, Dr. Anja Barešić, and Tomislav Strgar—five perspectives with one shared mission: to place technology in the service of children’s health without losing the human touch. The discussion covered the practical application of the SENDD system, the safety of AI in healthcare in the context of the EU AI Act, the importance of education for medical professionals, and the challenges of digital transformation in medical practice. The key message from Split was clear yet powerful: AI does not replace experts—it helps them become better, faster, and more confident in their assessments.

Audience members—pediatricians, neuro-pediatricians, neonatologists, and visiting nurses—actively participated in the discussion with questions about system reliability, data interoperability, and the potential to expand the solution to other diagnostic approaches. The answers made one thing evident: AI is no longer something that’s coming—it’s already here, and the healthcare sector is ready for it.

The conclusion of the evening was clear: innovations like SENDD demonstrate that the line between medicine and technology is fading, and within that intersection lies immense potential for better, faster, and more humane healthcare. Together, CroAI, TIS, and AI4Health showed what happens when science, empathy, and technology meet in the same room—and each brings out the best in the others. Because the future of pediatrics isn’t just digital. It’s smart, collaborative, and deeply human.