BHFF Senior Fellow Scholars Nejra Smajlović and Kristina Josipović Explore the Future of AI at AI Tech Summit Belgrade 2026
On 3–4 September 2026, BHFF Senior Fellow Scholars Nejra Smajlović and Kristina Josipović attended AI Tech Summit Belgrade 2026, held at the Sava Center in Belgrade, Serbia. The event brought together professionals, industry leaders, and technology enthusiasts to explore the current state of artificial intelligence, emerging trends, and the future of AI-driven innovation.
For Nejra and Kristina, the summit offered an opportunity to move beyond the academic understanding of AI and gain a closer look at how artificial intelligence is being developed and implemented in real-world business environments.
Understanding AI Beyond the Classroom
A major focus of the summit was the growing role of AI agents and business process automation. Speakers discussed how AI is increasingly becoming a standard part of business operations, from automating repetitive processes to connecting different tools and applications and enabling more efficient workflows.
For Kristina, the business-oriented nature of the event provided a valuable perspective on the practical side of AI.
Through different presentations, she learned more about how companies implement AI, the challenges they encounter along the way, and some of the common mistakes that can arise during implementation. This practical understanding of AI adoption is particularly valuable for students interested not only in the technology itself, but also in its role within modern organizations.
The summit also offered insights into how advanced AI systems currently are and what can be expected from their continued development. One of the topics that particularly stood out to Kristina was data centers and the infrastructure required to support AI systems, highlighting the extensive technological foundation behind the AI tools that are becoming increasingly visible in everyday life and business.
From AI Infrastructure to Regional Innovation
Beyond individual technologies, the summit provided a broader view of where the AI industry is heading. Discussions around AI agents, automation, infrastructure, and the integration of AI into existing systems demonstrated how quickly artificial intelligence is moving from an emerging technology toward a core component of many industries.
The event also featured a regional perspective through the panel “Future of AI in Southeast Europe: Building a Regional AI Ecosystem,” where BHFF Alumnus Rijad Šarić participated as a panelist. His contribution highlighted the importance of developing a strong AI ecosystem in Southeast Europe and creating opportunities for young people to engage with the rapidly evolving field.
For Nejra and Kristina, meeting professionals and members of the regional AI community added another valuable dimension to the experience. The summit created space not only for learning from presentations, but also for conversations, networking, and discovering different professional perspectives on the future of technology.
Learning Through Experience
One of the memorable moments of the summit was the appearance of a humanoid robot, which delivered opening remarks before even dancing for the audience. While entertaining, the moment also offered a memorable demonstration of how rapidly AI and robotics are becoming part of public and professional spaces.
For Kristina, the experience ultimately reinforced the importance of continuing to learn about AI and understanding its practical applications. Beyond the knowledge gained from the presentations, she highlighted the value of meeting new people and experiencing a professional environment centered around one of the most rapidly developing areas of technology.
Connecting Young Talent With the Future of Technology
Participation in AI Tech Summit Belgrade 2026 gave Nejra Smajlović and Kristina Josipović an opportunity to see AI from an industry perspective, complementing their academic experiences with exposure to professionals actively working in the field.
For young people interested in technology, business, and innovation, experiences like this can provide more than technical knowledge. They can help students understand where industries are heading, identify skills they may want to develop, and build connections with people working at the forefront of change.
By supporting BHFF Senior Fellow Scholars in accessing opportunities beyond the classroom, BHFF continues to connect young talent from Bosnia and Herzegovina with regional and international communities shaping the future of technology.