The Tech Leadership Conference 2025 focused on depth of content and genuine participation. In addition to keynotes and talks, including those by Dr. Julia Reuss (Meta), Daniel J. Beutel (Flower Labs), Hans Koenigsmann (former VP SpaceX) and international guests from research and industry, the focus was on town hall talks. These panels brought together thought leaders and invited the audience to actively participate.
For example, the panel “European Tech Sovereignty? Why We Need to Regain Our Confidence“ with representatives from ARIC Hamburg, Aleph Alpha, TU Hamburg, and Ivoclar discussed the value of European values in a global technology world. One of the central messages was: ”It is time to stop seeing ethics as a controlling authority at the end of the process and start seeing it as a formative force in the innovation process.”
The role of humans and AI was also up for debate. In the panel “Human and AI: Partner or Puppet?”, it became clear that there is more at stake than automation. It is about partnership – and about preserving humanity in technology: “AI magnifies both our strengths and our prejudices.”
The talk “Creating Business Value with AI” focused on specific applications and challenges in implementing AI in companies. One clear finding: “85 % of pilots fail” – but where AI is integrated sensibly, real added value is created.
A highlight of the conference were the Spotlight Talks – short, concise presentations by leading tech leaders from companies such as Google Deepmind, OpenAI, Microsoft, and Airbus prepared and moderated by students. Here, young talents showed how they get to the heart of current topics in technology, ethics, and society – and what questions they are asking today's leaders.
The fireside chat rounded off the first day of the conference. In conversation with Prof. Dr. Ralf Herbrich, former SpaceX Vice President Hans Koenigsmann gave honest insights into the early years of the space company. You can listen to the entire fireside chat in the live podcast.
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