Constructor University Alumni Future Skills Academy https://lnkd.in/eSybXtjE is a DAAD-supported international program that brought together mid-career alumni from around the world to discuss leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship, and the skills needed to thrive in an AI-driven world. The week-long academy equips professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate rapidly evolving technological and societal landscapes.
On June 25, as part of the program, Constructor Knowledge Labs hosted a session on the future of AI and applied research..
Mariia Snigireva, Ph.D., Executive Director of Constructor Labs, opened the session. A central theme of the talk was future competence – the skills organizations and individuals will need as AI becomes part of daily work.
The session continued with Prof. Alexander Tormasov, Director of Academic Affairs at CKL, whose keynote, “AI in 2026: Systems, Engineering, Applications and Trade-offs,” explored how AI is evolving beyond larger models toward integrated intelligent systems. He discussed emerging AI architectures, hardware and software trends, agentic applications, evaluation methodologies, governance challenges, and the economic realities of AI adoption. His talk focused on a question many organizations are facing today: what does it actually take to build AI systems that work reliably outside the lab?
The session concluded with a lively Q&A, where participants discussed AI governance, future skills, and how new research can be successfully applied across different industries.
We thank the Constructor University Alumni Office and everyone who joined us for the thoughtful discussion. We look forward to more opportunities to exchange ideas and explore how research can create lasting value for society.
