The UR AI Summit 2026 entitled “Next-Generation Artificial Intelligence for Law, Science, Innovation and Society”https://www.ur.edu.pl/pl/konferencje/ur-ai-summit-2026/program, held on 12–13 May 2026 at the University of Rzeszów, brought together representatives of academia, public administration, the new technologies sector, and business communities to discuss the development and application of artificial intelligence in science, the economy, law, and social life. The event program included a two-day cycle of plenary sessions, expert panels, debates, and practical workshops devoted to the key challenges and future directions of AI development.

On the first day of the conference, two plenary sessions, two discussion panels, and four parallel thematic panels were organized, focusing on law, business, education, and modern AI technologies. Expert presentations addressed, among others, the development of Big Data, artificial intelligence in public administration, personal data protection, cybersecurity, education, and AI applications in the economy and autonomous systems.

Dr. hab. Bogdan Wierzbiński, Professor at the University of Rzeszów and Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Finance, co-chaired the plenary session together with the Rector of the University of Rzeszów, Prof. Adam Reich.

The first plenary session of UR AI Summit 2026 featured representatives of academia, public administration, and the new technologies sector, presenting diverse perspectives on the development and application of artificial intelligence.

Dr. hab. Marek Cierpiał-Wolan, Professor at the University of Rzeszów, President of Statistics Poland (GUS), and researcher at the University of Rzeszów, delivered a lecture entitled “Big Data and Artificial Intelligence – Challenges and Directions of Development”. His presentation focused on the role of large datasets, analytics, and AI in state management, the economy, and public administration. The lecture emphasized the importance of data as a strategic resource for modern organizations and highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence in information analysis and decision-support processes.

Estera Haas-Abgarowicz, Head of AI at Asseco Poland, delivered a presentation entitled “Building Polish AI: Technology or the Ability to Collaborate?”, emphasizing the importance of cooperation between academia, business, and public administration in creating a national artificial intelligence ecosystem. The presentation highlighted that AI development requires not only advanced technologies, but also organizational competencies, partnerships, and a responsible approach to implementing modern digital solutions.

Anita Ciesielska from the University of Łódź and Joanna Mercik from the University of Silesia in Katowice presented a joint lecture entitled “Bielik – From the King of the Polish Sky to Polish Artificial Intelligence”. Their presentation focused on the development of Polish AI language models and the importance of building domestic artificial intelligence technologies tailored to the Polish language, culture, and the needs of Polish users. The speakers emphasized the significance of technological sovereignty and the potential of national AI projects such as Bielik in the development of science, education, and the economy.

The plenary session created an interdisciplinary platform for exchanging experiences between academia, public administration, and the technology sector, presenting various perspectives on AI development – from data analytics and state systems, through business solutions, to the development of Polish AI language models.

Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Finance, Bogdan Wierzbiński, also moderated the discussion panel entitled “From Data to Decisions: The Role of AI and Big Data in Building Competitive Advantages (Micro, Meso, Macro)”. The panel included representatives of academia, public administration, and the new technologies sector, including:

The discussion focused on the use of data and artificial intelligence in management processes, decision-making, and building competitive advantages for organizations and regions.

An important part of the conference also included specialized workshops held on the second day of the event, devoted to cybersecurity, data protection, and the practical application of generative AI tools in academic education. The workshops were conducted by experts from the University of Rzeszów, the Central Cybercrime Bureau, and specialists in new technologies and digital education.

In total, the UR AI Summit 2026 program included:

The conference became a platform for active cooperation between staff members of the Faculty of Economics and Finance of the University of Rzeszów and other university units, together with experts representing public administration, the new technologies sector, and the scientific community. The event enabled the exchange of experiences, the presentation of innovative solutions, and a multidimensional discussion on the impact of artificial intelligence on the development of society, the economy, education, and public administration.

UR AI Summit 2026 confirmed the significant role of the University of Rzeszów as a center integrating academic and expert communities around the issues of modern technologies and the development of artificial intelligence.