ITMO and Yandex to Train Specialists in Physical AI

AI robotics and physical AI are frontier tech fields that revolve around intelligent robots and autonomous systems capable of perceiving and analyzing their surroundings, as well as making independent decisions in real-world conditions. Such systems help solve complex practical problems in different fields, from logistics and production to materials science and medicine. 100 students who pass the selection will become the first members of Physical AI Garage; in their training, they’ll be able to use Yandex’s computational resources, as well as consult the company’s experts.

“Physical AI is a new phase of technological development, and it is when AI becomes a part of the physical world – production, logistics, and urban infrastructure. To facilitate this, we need experts who understand how to merge algorithms with engineering systems. We are launching Physical AI Garage so that we can collaborate with other universities and train a new kind of specialist. In this, we will rely on the experience and technologies of Yandex’s autonomous vehicles team,” says Daria Kozlova, the head of Yandex Education and the Director for Strategic Development at ITMO.

The new program is co-developed by Yandex’s autonomous vehicle and education departments: some classes will be held at ITMO and others – at the company. During their practical modules at Yandex, students will spend several weeks diving into the company’s tasks in physical AI and autonomous systems. They will be assisted by mentors from Yandex and the School of Data Analysis; students will also get access to the school’s courses on AI, algorithms, and machine learning. Thanks to the bridging of theory and practice, graduates of the program will be immediately ready to join industrial projects.

“At ITMO, we have a strong academic expertise in control and robotics; we combine classical methods with modern technologies in AI and autonomous systems. Physical AI is one of the most rapidly growing fields and thanks to our collaboration with Yandex, we’ll be able to merge academic and industrial competencies and thus accelerate the implementation of new approaches in education and research. This partnership offers students the opportunity to learn from the best experts on either side and create solutions that will define the future of intelligent technologies,” comments Anton Pyrkin, the dean of ITMO’s Faculty of Control Systems and Robotics.

At Yandex, the relevant technologies are developed by the teams of Yandex Robotics and autonomous vehicles: they are working on a universal “brain” for service and industrial robots, as well as technologies that allow autonomous vehicles to “see” their way and make safe decisions. The expertise of both divisions will lie at the core of the new educational program.