The modern university, as a socio-economic system, faces unprecedented challenges driven by globalization, the technological revolution, and the requirements of sustainable development. The transformation of a classical higher education institution into a sustainability-oriented SMART university necessitates fundamentally new management approaches. This article explores the symbiosis between the concept of adaptive leadership and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies as a key success factor in this transformation. It is substantiated that traditional hierarchical management models are ineffective under conditions of high uncertainty and volatility. The author proposes a conceptual model in which adaptive leadership, implemented at both institutional and distributed levels, leverages AI tools for data-driven decision-making, anticipative adaptation, and the personalization of all aspects of university operations – ranging from the educational process to resource management. It is determined that AI serves not as a replacement for the leader, but as a powerful "augmenter" of leadership capabilities, providing a toolkit for complex systems analysis, scenario modeling, and the automation of routine operations. It is proved that the synergy between human adaptive potential and AI computing power forms the foundation for a resilient, agile, and competitive SMART university of the future.