On October 2, 2026, the “The Next AI Frontier” panel session was held as part of AI & Digital Bridge 2026, bringing together experts from academia, technology and business to discuss the next stage of artificial intelligence development.
The session was moderated by Dr. Huseyin Atakan Varol, General Director of the Institute of Smart Systems and Artificial Intelligence (ISSAI) at Nazarbayev University and Dean of the School of Computing and Artificial Intelligence (SCAI).
The panel featured:
- Mérouane Debbah — Professor at Khalifa University of Science and Technology and AI Council Member.
- Alexander Khanin — Founder and CEO of Polynome Group and AI Council Member.
- Nicolas Sadirac — Co-Founder of 01Talent and AI Council Member.
- Tariq Qureishy — PhD in AI & Global Transformation, Founder and CEO of Future Readiness Forum & Xponential Group.
The discussion explored several key aspects of the evolving AI landscape, including the development of Physical AI and the transition of AI from digital environments into robotics, autonomous systems and other real-world applications. The panelists also discussed how organisations should adapt to an AI-driven world, including changes in business models, workflows and the skills required to work effectively alongside increasingly capable AI systems, as well as the commercial potential of AI and how emerging technologies can create new business opportunities and translate technological advances into practical applications.
The panel also addressed AI ethics and trust, highlighting the importance of responsible development and the need to build confidence in AI systems as their role in society continues to expand. A further focus was placed on the importance of soft skills and meta-skills: as AI takes on more technical and routine tasks, adaptability, critical thinking, communication, creativity and continuous learning remain essential capabilities for professionals navigating the changing technology landscape.
The panel provided an important opportunity to examine where AI is heading and what these developments could mean for businesses, researchers and society.