IPAI claims it is “creating the global home of human AI.” How will you ensure that AI applications on the IPAI campus are not only powerful, but also socially accepted and legally robust?
This claim is the foundation of all our work and commits us to consistently designing AI in the service of people. A central pillar of this strategy is the IPAI Foundation – the non-profit arm of our work, which we have set up as a separate institution to create and actively promote a robust ethical framework for AI development. Its core task is to focus on principles such as transparency, fairness and data protection and to actively shape social dialog through formats such as the AI Festival, the AI Salon and the IPAI Living Room Sessions in our Visitor Center. The IPAI Foundation is therefore our institutional anchor for implementing AI that is not only technologically powerful, but also integrated, trustworthy and human-centric in its social impact.
To what extent will the campus itself be an object of innovation? After all, you describe IPAI as a “living real-life laboratory.” What does that mean in concrete terms, for example for mobility, energy supply or digital governance?
It means that the entire infrastructure and everyday life on the campus will serve as a testing ground for AI applications. These applications will be trialled, further developed and scaled up under real-life conditions. In terms of mobility, this means that we are implementing and testing autonomous shuttle services, intelligent traffic control systems and adaptive parking solutions directly on campus. In terms of energy supply, the campus will be a pioneer for sustainable and AI-optimized energy systems – with smart power grids that control consumption and renewables-based generation in real time. For digital governance, we are modeling how AI can make administrative processes more efficient, transparent and citizen-friendly – from intelligent building management systems to data protection-compliant access and security solutions. The campus will therefore become a living demonstration of the smart city of the future.
What role do German and international partners play – and how can startups and SMEs specifically benefit from this ecosystem?
We see IPAI as the European answer to the global AI landscape. The focus is on European values such as data sovereignty, ethical principles, cooperation and sustainability. The aim is to develop our own technological solutions that meet the specific requirements and values of Europe. Our German and international partners are central to this, as they contribute their know-how, data and use cases. IPAI acts as a curator and catalyst by identifying relevant content, making it available in a structured manner and promoting dialog. This gives German SMEs and startups in particular direct access to the latest AI technologies, best practices and concrete implementation examples. The close ties between research, industry and entrepreneurship based on European values make IPAI a strong player in the age of artificial intelligence.
