SZ Digitalgipfel 2026: Europe’s digital future – AI, security and sovereignty

The SZ Digital Summit was opened by Federal Minister for Digital Affairs Dr Karsten Wildberger with a keynote speech on the modernisation of the state in the digital age. He emphasised that high-performance infrastructure and a modern administration are key prerequisites for competitiveness. An important step in this regard is the development of uniform standards for digital administrative structures – for example, through a sovereign cloud infrastructure on which citizen apps, digital administrative services and AI applications are to run in future.

Early applications are already demonstrating the potential this holds: AI agents can automate complex administrative processes, thereby enabling significant time savings. At the same time, Wildberger warned against decoupling enthusiasm for technological innovation from security concerns. Digital sovereignty therefore does not mean isolation, but rather the ability to make self-determined decisions regarding technologies, data and partnerships.

We're putting our heart and soul into it, knowing full well that it's going to be a long road.

Dr Karsten Wildberger, Federal Minister for Digital Affairs and State Modernisation

AI: between fascination and societal challenges

Another key focus of the SZ Digital Summit was the societal impact of artificial intelligence. This concerned not only technological developments, but also psychological and social dynamics. Studies already show that a growing proportion of people are forming emotional bonds with AI systems. Such developments could have far-reaching societal and even geopolitical consequences, as people often adopt the values and attitudes of those they form relationships with. The discussions made it clear that simple bans on the use of digital platforms and AI systems are rarely effective. Instead, there is a need for greater media literacy, stronger safeguards and responsible regulation.

“It is up to us”

Professor Julian Nida-Rümelin, a member of the bidt Board of Directors, also emphasised in his keynote address that technological development can always be shaped and controlled.

It is up to us.

Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Julian Nida-Rümelin To the profile

At the same time, he warned against a new form of futurism, criticising tech-libertarian ideologies. Technology must remain a tool that complements human capabilities rather than replacing them.

AI in business and industry

There was also much discussion about how AI is already transforming business and industry today. Researchers see enormous potential for AI-supported analysis, particularly in the healthcare sector – for example, in the development of new therapies for metabolic or neurological diseases. At the same time, new technologies are emerging that combine AI with robotics. So-called “action models”, which enable machines to understand and perform physical actions in the real world, are seen as forward-looking. There was agreement that AI will not replace humans, but will primarily complement human work.

Shaping Europe’s digital future

In the panel discussion “What Europe Can Do”, bidt Board of Directors member Professor Thomas Hess discussed Europe’s role in global digital competition with Nicole Büttner (FDP Secretary-General and CEO of Merantix Momentum) and Frank Karlitschek (CEO of Nextcloud).

Hess emphasised that the breakthrough of ChatGPT had, for the first time, made it clear to many European stakeholders just how rapidly the technological balance of power is shifting. This has significantly increased the pressure to act in Europe. At the same time, he warned against an overly pessimistic narrative regarding Europe’s digital capabilities.

Europe’s strength lies not in the global mass software market, but in the integration of digital technologies with industrial applications, such as in robotics, laboratory technology or manufacturing. In these areas, Europe possesses in-depth expertise and specialised datasets.

Digital sovereignty therefore does not mean complete self-sufficiency. Rather, it is crucial to recognise strategically in which areas independence is truly necessary. At the same time, Europe must focus more strongly on cooperation and regional innovation networks. Innovation rarely arises in isolation – progress requires exchange, shared ecosystems and a willingness to simply try out new solutions.

AI as a tool – not as the final decision-maker

The keynote speech “The Futurist: Should AI decide on life and death?” by Alena Buyx, Professor of Ethics in Medicine and Health Technologies at the Technical University of Munich, offered an ethical perspective on AI. Buyx made it clear that whilst AI systems possess enormous analytical capabilities, they lack an understanding of the complex social, emotional and moral dimensions of human decision-making. Particularly in sensitive fields such as medicine, even a seemingly small margin of error can have dramatic consequences.

An algorithm does not understand what is at stake when it comes to life and death. If we hand over ultimate responsibility to AI, we are taking it out of the hands of medical professionals – and placing it in the hands of those who build the algorithms.

Prof. Dr. med. Alena Buyx, holder of the Chair of Medical Ethics and Health Technologies at the Technical University of Munich

AI is therefore a valuable tool for supporting human decision-making, but must not be the final decision-maker in matters of life and death. Responsibility must continue to lie with the people who develop and deploy these technologies.

Conclusion

The SZ Digital Summit made it clear that Europe’s digital future depends on several factors: high-performance infrastructure, access to data and computing capacity, targeted investment, and close collaboration between politics, business and science. Only if these elements can be successfully combined will Europe be able to play a strong and self-determined role in the global competition for technologies such as artificial intelligence, digital platforms and cyber security.

Photo gallery

---