Could AI help to save Germany’s economy? | BBC News

Germany’s core industries, like car manufacturing, are under threat from competition abroad. Could artificial intelligence (AI) get Europe’s most powerful economy back on track?

Only two weeks ago its colation government collapsed, involving complicated constitutional questions at a time when economic growth has stalled.

Some of the world’s greatest experts on AI have gathered at the Falling Walls Science Summit, held on the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

It is 35th anniversry of the fall of the Berlin Wall, at the falling wall science summit looking at a gathering of the world’s greatest experts on artificial intelligence.

Founder of the summit Sebastian Turner hopes they will build bridges and break barriers, saying “which are the next walls to come down?”

Among the attendees is Richard Socher, whise pioneering research into prompt engineering lead to the explosion in generative AI.

Asked about how Germany could become one of the best countries for AI, he said it has to start “early on in high school” where people should study the English as a foreign language and also Python.

Meanwhile, two Berlin-based artists Matt Dryhurst and Holly Herndon also reveal how they use AI to aid the creative process.

[deluxlifebyGraziaCosta]

How can you shift a mindset? This is one of the few countries in Europe I’ve noticed that not only dislikes technology but also takes pride in maintaining methods from 30 years ago. Additionally, taking risks is viewed negatively, and they tend to avoid it altogether.

[wise]

Honestly, it’s hard to be hopeful about Germany. From a policy POV, change takes such an incredibly long time. Culturally, the situation is even more hopeless. They pride themselves on being very resistant to change and innovation and they have intelligent-sounding reasons for that. Intelligent as it may sound, fearing change leads to a declining economy and society.

[AnantVemuri]

I moved here 8 years back and a significant amount of basic research in computer science in medical imaging was going on and there was a lot of investment. Unfortunately it never translated into real world with a lot of initiatives just dying out.

I moved here from France and I noticed the huge discrepancy in basic things like accepting credit cards or the network coverage or the kinds of mobile phone plans that were available. Everything looked ancient compared to France. There is a lot of potential in digitalization within Germany, but because of a lack of forward-thinking leadership within Germany has really hurt country.

And it is getting exacerbated by the fact that everybody thinks only about migrants and not about building opportunities for startups or innovation.

[CharlieMcNugets]

30 year ago I moved from Canada to Germany as a software developer. Boy do I now regret it severely. Germany has become a dinosaur. This risk averse mindset is rooted very deeply here. Even their automotive industry is now in serious decline. Germans showed just how idiotic they were when they shut down their nuclear power stations right in the midst of an energy crisis. No amount of AI is going to change the mess Germany put themselves into.

[RahulSharma-golh]

I work in AI and have lived in Germany. Germany is not really close to USA in field of AI but the work culture in Germany is great. They will catch up

[liquify-]

I live in Germany and have done for close to a decade. I also own a tech company based in UK & working with people worldwide, employ people, invest in AI services etc (although AI is not our main source of revenue).

Honestly - AI has zero change of propping up Germany's economy. Zero. I laughed when i saw this title pop up. If anything it will take from it. For a start nobody would ever base a tech company here. Restrictions are insane and mindset on data just gets in the way of even basic solutions (like even sharing data between doctors on different floors of a hospital is a problem). US and China will rule the AI race - 100%.

There's a lot of enthusiastic people in Berlin in the tech scene but very little of substance there. Germany is largely a nation of digital grannies, too paranoid to implement change. Not to say they don't do a lot of things right here ...they do. But tech and tech talent is all largerly imported and I don't see that changing. Literally a decade behind in everything to do with tech here. It's like visiting a museum living here.

All they will do here is blow a load of taxes on trying to skill up a non-digital workforce through traditional qualifications. That simply won't work.

[robbiejay]

I am an AI Scientist and trying to get a visa from Germany. I have been waiting for 7 months. If Germany wants to change, it shoud start with its bureaucracy.

[eduarditogonzales]

Artificial Intelligence to beat Natural Stupidity? Never.

[Yorunatto]

Ye sure because AI is the Answer to magically everything. Maybe I should use AI myself to make me an Billionaire. Should be easy

[asbjrngrini]

This was just depressing to watch. Europe is so far behind.

[zmertzi]

23:25 LMAO that compliment caught me off guard

[kcvv]

I am surprised you haven't talked with or about DeepL

[boeingpameesha]

My sincere thanks for sharing it.
Technology at it's best.

[raymond]

it's unsavable if they don't want to be saved

[zabikhilloazimov]

Imagine what’d happen if Germany was in as many sanctions as Russia currently in. 😅

[mshark]

I guess they should turn to Saylor: “Bitcoin will fix it” 😂

[securityinteractive]

Manufacturing will prevent modern tech from getting the funding.

[PointmanOps]

15:17 About Ai, "it's almost like a child" More like a prodigy child, I would say.

[alphaminds]

Smart people never try to change other people's mindset they just move to the place where they can grow and thrive. The bay area in the US is a perfect example.

[BantuEconomicServices]

Really? The UK actually using the ultimate tool designed for them to make themselves richer? What a genius idea