AI reality check in Cologne: What we took away from the alumni talk

It seems like every other conference these days promises that AI is set to change everything. And that’s actually true. But it says very little about what working with AI is actually like on a perfectly ordinary Tuesday. It was precisely this reality check that the Rheinische Hochschule Köln provided on 14 October at the 3rd Alumni Talk – and Johannes was on the panel representing us.

Three people, three completely different ways of working

The format is simple, and that’s precisely why it works: three speakers demonstrate how they actually use AI in their work. No keynote clichés, just concrete examples and personal experiences from their own day-to-day lives. Franziska Fritz and Stefanie Kiell came from completely different professional backgrounds to ours – and it was precisely these differences that made the evening so special. What has long been routine in one sector is still a matter of debate in the other. And there are good reasons for both.

We are no strangers to higher education: Johannes used to teach there himself; today, he teaches applied generative AI on the Master’s programme at Münster University of Applied Sciences. It was this blend of teaching and product development that provided the perspective from which he developed his two theses.

Thesis 1: AI must ease the burden, not add to it

AI is transforming our working world faster than most organisations can adapt their processes. The question, therefore, is no longer whether we use AI – but what it is used for. Our answer: it must take over routine tasks and free up time. Full stop.

What we often see instead is this: a team is given a new tool, expectations rise as a result, and in the end, they’re simply expected to get more done in the same amount of time. That’s not taking the pressure off. It’s a new tool for the same old pressure. Anyone who fails to involve staff in the roll-out process ends up creating exactly that – and is then surprised by the scepticism within the team.

Thesis 2: Europe needs digital autonomy

At first glance, the second proposition sounds like politics, but it is actually business management: digital sovereignty is not an ideology, but economic policy. As long as key infrastructure, models and platforms are located outside Europe, we are relinquishing control over pricing, availability and the rules governing our own value creation. If a provider changes its terms and conditions – entire process chains depend on them.

Anyone who wants to remain capable of acting must adopt a European perspective in three areas: data centres, standards and procurement. This is not just a ‘nice-to-have’, but a means of protecting our own domestic economy. And yes, we’re not just talking about it: our infrastructure is self-hosted with a German hosting provider, and with conduco AI we’re building an AI client that runs within the EU.

Five questions we came away with

The most exciting part was the discussion afterwards. Not because anyone had the definitive answer, but because the questions were so specific:

Quality assurance: How do we ensure that AI results are accurate?

Workflow and teamwork: How are we rethinking work processes and collaboration?

Cognitive Load: How do we cope with more data in less time?

Ethics and security: Who is responsible, and where is the data?

Sustainability: How can we use AI in a targeted way, rather than blindly following the hype?

These aren’t just hype-driven questions any more. They’re questions from people who have been using AI for some time and now want to know how to do it properly. And they’re exactly the questions our customers come to us with.

Thank you, Cologne

With its Alumni Talks, the Rheinische Hochschule Köln has created a format that genuinely brings academia, alumni, students and the professional world together around one table – without any theatrical posturing. Thank you to Karen Nennen, Niklas Mahrdt, Dr Guido Kiel, Marie-Susann Kühr and the whole team for the invitation, and to Franziska Fritz and Stefanie Kiell for offering different perspectives. We’d love to come back.

Do you want to introduce AI into your business that really takes the strain off – and do so using European infrastructure? Get in touch. Together, we’ll look at where AI can take over routine tasks for you and where it’s best left out.