We live in a time when new capabilities of artificial intelligence are being introduced almost every day.
Models are becoming more capable, systems more complex, and the boundary between what we considered experimental only yesterday and what we use in everyday work today is shifting at extraordinary speed.
In such an environment, it is easy to fall into the trap of immediately publishing, presenting and promoting every new idea.
Yet some ideas require a different approach.
They first need to be developed thoroughly enough.
From Questions to More Serious Research
Over the past period, I have been intensively exploring questions related to the development of artificial intelligence, information systems and digital transformation.
The deeper I went into certain problems, the more often I returned to one seemingly simple question:
Is having vast amounts of data, powerful models and enormous computing power enough for intelligent functioning?
Modern systems demonstrate remarkable capabilities.
They can analyse enormous amounts of data, recognise patterns, generate text, images and software code, predict certain outcomes, and solve problems that until recently required significant human involvement.
But as their capabilities grow, other questions become increasingly important:
How is information interconnected?
How is knowledge formed and organised?
To what extent does context influence the meaning of information?
How do we distinguish statistical association from a causal relationship?
What does it actually mean for a system to understand something?
How does understanding lead to reasoning, and reasoning to decision-making?
What role do goals and rules play in all of this?
When these questions are considered together, it becomes clear that we are not dealing merely with individual technological problems.
We are dealing with the question of the organisation of intelligent functioning as a whole.
There Is Much More Between Data and Intelligent Behaviour Than Meets the Eye
Public discussions about artificial intelligence are often dominated by models, algorithms, the amount of data and computing power.
All of these are extremely important.
But intelligent functioning does not emerge simply because a system has access to vast amounts of data or a highly capable model.
Between data and intelligent behaviour lies an entire space of relationships that deserves serious consideration.
Data can become information.
Information can become part of knowledge.
Knowledge must be organised.
Organised content must be properly interpreted within a particular context.
Some relationships may be causal, while others may be merely statistical or functional.
On this basis, a system may form a certain understanding of a situation, reason, evaluate possibilities and make decisions.
But even then, the process is not complete.
A system acts in relation to particular goals and rules, while the consequences of its behaviour may change the subsequent state of both the system and its environment.
It is precisely this space between data and intelligent behaviour that has become the subject of my particular interest.
Why I Am Not Discussing It in Greater Detail Yet
Over the past several months, I have also explored some of these questions through articles published on the e-Development Blog.
That has been useful.
Publicly formulating an idea often helps us examine it more critically.
But there comes a point when research needs to separate itself from the rhythm of everyday publishing.
I am currently at precisely that stage.
Some of the ideas I am developing can no longer be treated as the subject of a single article or even several related texts.
They require much more systematic work: precise definition of concepts, study of relevant literature, interconnection of concepts, examination of internal consistency and the gradual construction of a broader theoretical framework.
For that reason, I do not want to publish the details prematurely.
Not because ideas should be hidden, but because they should first be developed well enough to withstand serious professional and academic discussion.
e-Development Must Also Be a Place Where Ideas Are Created
The e-Development Association has existed since 2010.
Throughout these years, we have connected people, companies and institutions, organised conferences and business meetings, exchanged experience and encouraged cooperation.
That remains an important part of our identity.
But I believe that an organisation with the word development in its name should not be satisfied merely with following changes created by others.
There must also be room for our own thinking about the future.
For research.
For asking questions.
For connecting business experience, technology and theoretical work.
And, when the conditions are right, for developing new ideas.
This is precisely why I want e-Development to further strengthen its professional and intellectual dimension in the period ahead.
An Important Period Lies Ahead
There is a great deal of work ahead for the e-Development Association before the end of the year.
We are preparing the e-Development Conference 2026, which will be held on 3 December 2026 in Belgrade, while continuing to develop our membership, cooperation with companies and partners, and the activities of our business community.
But alongside all of this, there is another, quieter and less visible process taking place.
A process of research and development of ideas that could, in the future, become significant not only for the Association but also for the wider professional community.
I do not know in advance where this path will lead us.
Serious research is research precisely because its outcome should not be declared complete in advance.
But I do know that the questions we are exploring deserve to be asked.
And that searching for answers to them is worthwhile.
Development Is Not Built by Technology Alone
Digital development is not merely a matter of new platforms, applications and devices.
Development also depends on how well we understand the systems we create.
Artificial intelligence will undoubtedly continue to advance.
Models will become more capable.
Computing infrastructure will become more powerful.
The amount of available data will grow even further.
But perhaps one of the important questions for the future will be:
How can all these capabilities be organised into systems that do not merely process information, but connect and contextualise it, use it in reasoning, and act in relation to clearly defined goals and rules?
The answer to that question will not emerge overnight.
But these are precisely the kinds of questions worth exploring.
An Open Space for People, Knowledge and Cooperation
The e-Development Association continues to create space for knowledge exchange, professional dialogue and the development of new ideas in the fields of digital transformation, artificial intelligence and modern technologies.
We are open to new members, experts, companies and partners who wish to contribute their knowledge, experience and cooperation to our community and to the initiatives we develop together.
Because developing new ideas is rarely the work of one person or one organisation.
The most valuable things emerge when knowledge, experience, different perspectives and people willing to think together about what comes next are brought together.
And some ideas still need to be developed before we publish them.
Those are the questions I am currently working on.
And when there is enough reason to say more — I will.
Slobodan Krstić
President of the e-Development Association