About the Event
For this year’s AAIC we focused on topics such as Greentech, manufacturing, cross border collaboration and AI’s impact on SMEs.
Keynote Summary: Sony AI on AI-Driven Transformation
Michael Spranger, COO of Sony AI, presented a compelling keynote on Sony’s mission to become an AI-powered organization, with initiatives spanning from entertainment and gaming to chip manufacturing and creative tools. Spranger detailed the evolution of Sony AI, noting that it now serves as a strategic R&D unit within Sony, directly reporting to top leadership. One standout project, Gran Turismo Sophie, demonstrated Sony’s AI expertise in creating a racing agent that outperformed professional gamers and eSports drivers in the popular Gran Turismo game series. Spranger explained how the deep reinforcement learning used in Gran Turismo Sophie not only achieved superhuman levels in racing but also led to new insights into collaborative AI, an approach that combines competitiveness and sportsmanship in an innovative, realistic manner. Beyond gaming, the project paved the way for broader AI adoption across Sony’s many verticals, including music, movie production, and image processing. This keynote highlighted Sony’s belief in “AI for creativity,” emphasizing their mission to use AI to expand human imagination while maintaining a commitment to ethical and practical AI solutions that integrate seamlessly into consumer products.
Panel Summaries
1. Economic Impact of AI for SMEs
Moderated by Clemens Wasner, Co-Founder of AI Austria, this panel provided valuable insights into the economic benefits and adoption hurdles for AI among small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Panelists included Google’s Head of Government Affairs Lucy Georgieva and Daniel Abbou of the European AI Forum, who shared observations on AI’s impact on productivity and efficiency within SMEs. While large corporations often have the resources to implement AI-driven transformations, SMEs face unique challenges, including limited budgets, lack of in-house technical expertise, and cybersecurity concerns. The discussion focused on demystifying AI for these smaller companies by emphasizing accessible, small-scale applications that could streamline operations without overwhelming their existing systems. Georgieva highlighted that the potential of AI for SMEs is on par with revolutionary technologies like electricity in its capacity to drive efficiency gains. Abou underscored the need for pragmatic use cases that address immediate needs, such as back-office automation and data organization. Both panelists emphasized that AI adoption would benefit from targeted government support, digital literacy programs, and simplified AI tools tailored to SMEs’ specific constraints. This panel concluded that the path forward involves balancing excitement about AI with realistic, easily implementable solutions.
2. Startups and Innovation: From Lab to Market
This panel showcased the dynamic journey of AI startups, with a focus on bridging academic research with industry applications. Experts from both Austria and Japan discussed the critical role universities play in fostering AI innovation and accelerating the commercialization process.
The panel included Alfred Taudes of Vienna University of Economics and Business, who emphasized the importance of breaking down silos between basic and applied research. He pointed out that fostering an entrepreneurial mindset within academia could better prepare students and researchers for launching startups. Yasuhiko Katagiri from Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology highlighted Japan’s approach to scaling foundational AI models through a collaborative national program, GENIAC, which provides supercomputing resources to select startups and academic projects.
This initiative exemplifies the Japanese government’s commitment to fostering innovation in AI while ensuring that young companies have access to essential tools for scalability. Go Suzui, co-founder of an Austrian-Japanese AI startup, added a practical perspective, sharing the challenges and opportunities he encountered in moving from academic research to founding a business. He stressed the need for early data validation with potential clients to bridge the gap between theoretical and real-world applications. This panel emphasized that fostering collaborative ecosystems, providing targeted funding, and encouraging cross-border partnerships can accelerate the journey from lab to market.
3. AI in Manufacturing
The manufacturing panel, moderated by Rudolf Loidl, Editor-in-Chief at Industrie Magazin, delved into AI’s transformative potential for industrial processes and supply chain management. Key players, including Prewave’s Head of Data Science Thomas Moser, and Stefan Fischer-Eder from KEBA, shared insights into how AI technologies like machine vision, predictive maintenance, and supply chain monitoring are reshaping industrial efficiency. Thomas Moser discussed Prewave’s use of AI to enhance transparency in supply chains, allowing manufacturers to anticipate and mitigate risks like supply disruptions due to geopolitical events or raw material shortages. This proactive approach to AI-supported decision-making has proven invaluable during events like the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted global supply chains. Meanwhile, Fischer-Eder discussed KEBA’s developments in edge AI for manufacturing, where machine learning models are deployed directly within production facilities to streamline real-time data processing for quality control and operational oversight. Michael Haselgruber from Pro2Future emphasized that AI implementations must integrate seamlessly with existing human expertise on the factory floor. He shared that the biggest challenges in AI integration are ensuring data quality, fostering domain knowledge, and managing change in industrial settings. While panelists acknowledged that fully autonomous factories may be far off, they agreed that AI offers incremental efficiencies that make manufacturing more resilient and adaptive, helping firms address both immediate challenges and long-term sustainability goals.
4. Green and Clean Technology
In this session, moderated by Clemens Wasner, the focus shifted to AI’s role in advancing sustainable practices and clean technology. Panelists included Nate Wyne from Floodlight, Benjamin Mörzinger from Nista.io, and Alice Schmidt, sustainability advisor and author of The Sustainability Puzzle. They explored how AI can drive sustainable energy management, optimize resource use, and comply with rigorous environmental regulations like the EU’s CSRD. Floodlight’s Nate Wine emphasized the importance of satellite data and AI in monitoring emissions and climate risk, enabling real-time insights for companies to better meet their sustainability goals. Benjamin Mörzinger from Nista.io shared how AI-driven energy management systems allow manufacturers to efficiently manage energy use, reduce costs, and ultimately decrease their carbon footprint. However, he noted that many companies still focus on short-term savings rather than long-term sustainability, an attitude that can limit the effectiveness of AI solutions. Alice Schmidt highlighted the need for responsible AI practices, pointing out that while AI can advance sustainable goals, it also increases energy demands, posing a paradox for tech companies. The discussion addressed AI’s potential for managing complex ecological data, promoting circular economy practices, and encouraging companies to invest in long-term sustainability initiatives. Panelists called for greater awareness of AI’s environmental impact, urging companies to adopt “corporate digital responsibility” to ensure that technology adoption aligns with sustainable and ethical standards.
The AAIC 2024 brought AI’s vast potential to life, showcasing its powerful role in tackling some of society’s most pressing challenges, from efficient manufacturing and climate resilience to smarter cities and resource conservation. Each session highlighted how AI can drive real-world improvements, enhancing productivity, sustainability, and innovation across industries. The event buzzed with insights on how AI can actively shape a better future—one where businesses are more adaptable, cities more livable, and technology more aligned with human needs. With vibrant discussions and forward-looking ideas, AAIC 2024 made it clear that AI is a vital force in creating solutions that improve lives and build stronger, more resilient communities.