At the AI Future Stage, a deep discussion took place on how artificial intelligence is reshaping the educational trajectory—from school to university and onward to a career in IT. The focus was not just on technology, but on a fundamental shift in how we prepare specialists for the future.
Key Discussion Topics
Experts analyzed who exactly bears the responsibility for training AI personnel. A comparison was made between classical university education and short intensive programs, and the role of universities and online platforms in building competencies was assessed. Special emphasis was placed on preparing for uncertainty: how to structure learning when the market and technologies change faster than curricula.
A significant part of the discussion was devoted to the role of humans in the educational process. Participants explored where the line lies between automation and the teacher's responsibility, as well as how the quality of AI education is evolving in response to market demands. The conversation also touched on the future of intellectual labor: which skills will be in demand in the coming years and how school and secondary education will be transformed under the influence of AI.
Participants and Their Positions
The moderator was Alena Afanasyeva—founder and CEO of the platform. The panel brought together leading practitioners: Dmitry Botov (co-founder of AI Talent Hub, ITMO), Andrey Komissarov (Chief AI Specialist at Synergy Corporation, consultant to the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation), Oleg Grinko (Director of T-System, leader of the Energynet working group of NTI), Ilya Kurmyshev (CEO of Yandex Practicum), and Denis Smetnev (co-founder of Skyeng and uForce).
Each of them presented specific cases from market leaders, analyzing the challenges and prospects of AI education in Russia. The discussion showed that the market already demands not just knowledge, but adaptability and the ability to work with tools that change monthly.
My analysis: This discussion is a clear signal for investors and founders of EdTech startups. The labor market in the AI field is fragmented, and classical universities are not yet keeping up with demand. Key value will lie with projects that can flexibly combine online formats with practical cases from the industry. Pay attention to startups offering micro-degrees and AI tutors—this is an area with high growth potential.