Thought Leaders Conference at österreichischer Gewerbeverein: understand the challenge “Artificial Intelligence” and turn it into a manifesto of Digital Humanism

Vanessa Prankl/usePat, Daniel Müller-Grittschner / TU Munich, Palais Eschenbach 10/23

A lot of brainpower has been poured into the concept and design of this conference... what inspiration, information from practice, and research is needed to discuss the epochal change in AI in order to postulate an attitude? How much technology, how much ethics - where do we stand / see ourselves as entrepreneurs?

My team “Senat work4.0” / Austrian Trade Organisation of Small and Medium Enterprises invited to this Thought Leaders Day under the topic: Epochal Change “Artificial intelligence”.  The conference followed the goal to broadly discuss challenges and opportunities which Artificial Intelligence is offering to entrepreneurs. The question of the differentiation between man and machine, which subsequently also has social and political consequences, marks a turning point that will determine the future of us entrepreneurs.

I was happy to have a following ECOMAI project workshop the next day. So I could invite my colleagues PD Dr. Daniel Mueller-Gritschneder, Technische Universität München & Vanessa Prankl, usePAT to talk about one of the aspects of our project:

tinyML - the hidden AI revolution for embedded systems using the example of the European ECOMAI project

The aim to highlight the business opportunities which arise from the use of tinyML and how to implement it into practice was well perceived by the audience. It shows how a strong ecosystem of research and commercial partners deliver value to this current fast technology development.

The overarching discussion took place under the catchword “digital humanism”. Vienna can be described as the capital of this multidisciplinary approach. In May 2019, an important milestone was set with the “Vienna Manifesto for Digital Humanism”. This will be followed by the first UNESCO Chair for Digital Humanism at the Vienna University of Technology in May 2023.

“We must shape technologies according to human values and needs, instead of just allowing technologies to shape people, technologies to shape people.” (from the Vienna Manifesto for Digital Humanism).

Many great speakers were contributing to the following discussions around work, sustainability, leadership, technology… It was the first discussion "Manifesto Digital Humanism for Entrepreneurs" and we will follow up with specific workshops in February 2024. Manifesto for digital Humanism for Entrepreneurs – a way to go and I am so much looking forward to developing it. I simply love discourses.