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When rms GmbH was looking for a keynote speaker for its company-wide AI Day, the requirement was clear: the employees needed both a comprehensive introduction to the topic of artificial intelligence and a balanced perspective between hype, criticism and reality. Instead of a single keynote, I worked with the team to develop a format consisting of two complementary talks that framed the day.
A nuanced perspective instead of simple answers
In a preliminary interview for AI Day, I stressed the importance of a nuanced view:
“What fascinates me personally about AI is that in our discussions we often forget to distinguish between the specific AI technology and our image of the future of AI. We see an AI application and immediately extrapolate in our minds where it could lead in the future. And then we react emotionally only to the image of the future and not to the current technology.”
This distinction between technological reality and imagined futures was the common thread running through both keynotes.
The opening keynote: fundamentals and orientation
The first talk, ‘History, Hype & Futures of AI’, provided attendees with a general introduction to the topic. In addition to the historical context from the beginnings of AI to current developments such as GPT-4, the focus was on specific practical examples from the mobility industry.
At the core were three possible future scenarios:
- “The agents are coming”: The Silicon Valley vision of autonomous AI assistants
- “The end of the internet”: a scenario in which AI-generated slop content leads to an inundation of the web.
- “The new Excel”: AI as a pragmatic tool for everyday work
The closing speech: reflection and discourse
Finally, ‘AI from Bizarre to Spiritual’ offered a humorous yet profound look at current AI phenomena. From amusing AI hallucinations to the social debates surrounding deep fakes and the fear of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) in Silicon Valley, this talk provided a critical reflection of current discourses – and ensured a relaxed but meaningful conclusion to the theme day.
A balanced view rather than hype
“What sets Johannes apart is his ability to objectively and accurately categorise facts and information. This pleasantly distinguishes him from many other keynote speakers who take exaggerated, usually uncritically optimistic positions in their speeches.”
Jan Klähr, Fabian Will and Lorenz Crössmann from the rms innovation management team
This balanced perspective between technological potential and critical reflection characterises my work as a keynote speaker on the subject of artificial intelligence. Instead of one-sided promises for the future or apocalyptic warnings, the focus is on providing guidance and highlighting the scope for action.
Your AI event in 2025?
“We hired Johannes as a speaker for our in-house AI day in May 2024. His two lectures on artificial intelligence impressed with excellently researched and almost up-to-the-minute content, which Johannes conveyed in an understandable and always entertaining way.
As the organisers of the event, we received nothing but positive feedback from our colleagues about Johannes’s talks. Working with him was also very pleasant and uncomplicated. If the opportunity arose again in the future, we would engage Johannes immediately.”
Jan Klähr, Fabian Will and Lorenz Crössmann – rms innovation management
Are you looking for a keynote speaker for your event who can communicate the topic of artificial intelligence in a way that is both profound and entertaining? Contact me for a preliminary discussion about your specific requirements.