Talks

Bringing modern features to classic multi-agent systems

October 21, 2026 · 13:30 – 15:30 · Arena 1

About the talk

Multi-agent systems and MAS frameworks have been around for several decades. However, the advent of agents based on Large Language Models (LLMs) gives rise to a crossroads moment in the history of MAS, when LLMs and classic agents can work together to leverage the advantages of each approach. LLMs are currently changing how agents work, behave, and interact. But the integration between classic and LLM-based agents, together with updates to the mechanics and tools offered by MAS frameworks, can bring great strengths and alleviate several weaknesses currently existing in both branches of multi-agent systems. In this context, classic MAS frameworks need an update. In this talk I will touch on several advances that we have done in our team, moving towards modern architecture and features for MAS frameworks.

Speaker

Andrei Olaru

University Politehnica of Bucharest, Romania

Andrei Olaru is Associate Professor at the National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest — previously University Politehnica of Bucharest, where he serves in the Computer Science Department within the Faculty of Automatic Control and Computers. His academic activity focuses on artificial intelligence, with particular interests in intelligent agents, multi-agent systems, context-aware computing, and machine learning. Olaru obtained his Ph.D. in 2011 through a double-diploma doctoral program between Politehnica Bucharest and Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris 6, now Sorbonne University). His doctoral research addressed the integration of context-awareness in multi-agent systems for ambient intelligence applications. He is the co-founder and coordinator of the Master’s program in Financial Computing at Politehnica Bucharest, developed since 2017 in collaboration with industry partners. His research work includes participation in national and European projects related to artificial intelligence, distributed systems, and trustworthy AI, being member of many labs and actively contributing to research initiatives addressing both theoretical and applied aspects of intelligent systems. Olaru is also a founding member of the Romanian Association for Artificial Intelligence (ARIA).

Beyond the Model: Architecting Agentic AI Systems

Date, time and room to be confirmed.

About the talk

Large Language Models (LLMs) are evolving from conversational interfaces into agentic systems that reason, use tools, maintain memory, specialize, and coordinate toward goals. This shift suggests that AI capability is shaped not only by model size, but also by how systems are architected. In this keynote, I will discuss the principles behind agentic AI and argue for the importance of building effective systems on top of smaller, open LLMs, reducing dependence on a few proprietary developers and/or providers while improving technological sovereignty, cost efficiency, transparency, and accountability. As a case study, I will present ARARA, a modular multi-agent framework for conversational recommender systems, and show how explicit specialization, memory, and governed coordination can improve robustness and effectiveness. The broader lesson is that the future of AI may depend as much on how we architect and harness intelligence as on how large we make LLM models.

Speaker

Prof. Dr. Marcelo da Silva Reis

Institute of Computing, University of Campinas, Brazil

AAMAS Silver Jubilee: Where did we come from and where are we going?

Date, time and room to be confirmed.

About the talk

In 2026, the International Conference on Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems (AAMAS) celebrates its 25th edition. Since its first edition in Bologna in 2002, the field has made remarkable progress, generating new models, paradigms, and distinct scientific perspectives, inspired by areas as diverse as computer science and engineering, social sciences, psychology, logics, economics, and management, among others. This presentation will provide an overview of the field's history, origins, main research topics, and its place within the current landscape of integrating Artificial Intelligence in the corporate and social world.

Speaker

Prof. Dr. Jaime Simão Sichman

Polytechnic School, University of São Paulo, Brazil