7. The computer-implemented method according to claim 6 , wherein the semantic layer includes an artificial intelligence (AI) engine and an interface implemented as a component of a messaging application, wherein the first individual is identified by the KMS layer, wherein the second individual belongs to a social network, wherein the social network includes a third individual, wherein the refined characterization is determined based further on at least one of: (i) a third characterization of the skill level of the first individual in the specified skill, wherein the third characterization is provided by the third individual and confirms the second characterization of the skill level of the first individual and (ii) the third characterization being different from the first characterization and the second characterization, wherein the first individual is selected from a set of individuals identified to be part of a predetermined organization, wherein the data store comprises a database; wherein the second characterization from the second individual is requested and received by the collaboration layer, and wherein the computer-implemented method further comprises, by the semantic layer: receiving, from the requesting entity, input responsive to prompting the requesting entity to verify that the reformulated query is a correct representation of the query; upon determining that the input received from the requesting entity indicates that the reformulated query is a correct representation of the query, submitting the reformulated query to the KMS for refinement.
7. The computer-implemented method according to claim 6 , wherein the semantic layer includes an artificial intelligence (AI) engine and an interface implemented as a component of a messaging application, wherein the first individual is identified by the KMS layer, wherein the second individual belongs to a social network, wherein the social network includes a third individual, wherein the refined characterization is determined based further on at least one of: (i) a third characterization of the skill level of the first individual in the specified skill, wherein the third characterization is provided by the third individual and confirms the second characterization of the skill level of the first individual and (ii) the third characterization being different from the first characterization and the second characterization, wherein the first individual is selected from a set of individuals identified to be part of a predetermined organization, wherein the data store comprises a database; wherein the second characterization from the second individual is requested and received by the collaboration layer, and wherein the computer-implemented method further comprises, by the semantic layer: receiving, from the requesting entity, input responsive to prompting the requesting entity to verify that the reformulated query is a correct representation of the query; upon determining that the input received from the requesting entity indicates that the reformulated query is a correct representation of the query, submitting the reformulated query to the KMS for refinement. 8. The computer-implemented method according to claim 7 , further comprising: upon determining that the count of the plurality of individuals is equal to or greater than a desired count of individuals characterizing the skill level of the first individual, generating output identifying the first individual and specifying the confirmed first characterization of the skill level of the first individual in the specified skill, without requesting any additional individual, including the second individual, to characterize the skill level of the first individual, wherein the output is returned to the requesting entity responsive to the request; wherein the plurality of individuals are distinct, wherein the first characterization of a skill level of the first individual in the specified skill is not determined based on any input from the first individual, wherein the first individual is not requested to characterize the skill level of the first individual in the specified skill.