As AI systems become more capable, the question becomes not what machines can do, but what humans should still learn – and why. In his DLD Munich 2026 talk, Pegor Papazian, co-founder and CEO of TUMO, presents a compelling case for rethinking education in an age of falling birth rates and rising automation.
“What if AI really becomes very proficient so that it does most things better than most of us?”, Papazian asks. In that scenario, what is education even for?
Papazian presents TUMO as a model for the future, emphasizing intrinsic motivation, creativity, and self-directed learning. Now operating in multiple countries with 35,000 students attending weekly, the program is built on “no exams, no competition, no teachers in the classic sense, no certification”, Papazian says.
“What really matters is intrinsic motivation, long-lasting intrinsic motivation”, Papazian stresses. “That’s what we should be aiming for. That’s the only thing that’s going to survive AI.”
Watch the video to explore this topic in detail.
