The DLD Nightcap is considered the social highlight of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland. Hubert Burda Media and DLD host this fixture in the WEF calendar.
Climate change and artificial intelligence (AI) are the two hot topics of the moment. Developments are moving so fast that Burda's international innovation conference DLD decided to invite participants to join in the exchange of ideas already this September, a few months ahead of the traditional DLD date in January. Today, more than 400 participants met at the Amerikahaus in Munich to discuss the "Circular Economy" and to set the tone for the two conferences: Today’s DLD Circular and the DLD AI Summit, which takes place tomorrow.
"We have come together today to discuss how an economic system could run in a closed cycle, just like in nature, and to look for solutions to put this idea into practice."
Steffi Czerny, curator of the DLD
The day was a powerful demonstration of the scale of climate change and the impact it is already having, leaving no area (of life) untouched as an interdisciplinary line-up of speakers presented. But it wouldn't be DLD without the usual solution-oriented discussions and presentation of new developments.
As one of 23 panels and keynotes, BMW board member Ilka Horstmeier and BASF CTO and board member Melanie Maas-Brunner, together with McKinsey senior partner Solveigh Hieronimus, talked about the transformation of industries: They pointed out how important it is to prepare companies for the changes and to encourage collaborations in order to keep pace. A crucial point: to inform along the way and to set clear visions.
“People don’t want to follow if they do not have a perspective of what is coming. The narrative needed is that the future is exciting because we can find solutions that really keep up the joy of life and at the same time working against climate change.”
Ilka Horstmeier, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG
Other topics included design, literature, biodiversity, and innovative new materials. In all of them, technology and especially artificial intelligence (AI) play the decisive role in advancing sustainability and the circular economy. Impressions of the panels and the DLD community at the Amerikahaus can be found in our picture gallery on Flickr. Recordings of the panels will also be available here.
The DLD AI Summit 2023 will take place tomorrow, Thursday 7 September. If you cannot make it to the Amerikahaus, you can watch the panels live via livestream.
