DLD Munich 25
18/01/2025

The world deserves optimism

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The DLD innovation conference was launched in 2005 to explore the impact of the Internet on the world. Twenty years later, the world is facing new technological realities: artificial intelligence, quantum computing, biotechnology, fusion technology, robotics, space exploration and autonomous mobility. These radical innovations are transforming almost every aspect of our life. This year's DLD conference, held in Munich from 16-18 January, focused on how these innovations can be harnessed for the benefit of people and the planet. The motto was ‘Future Positive'.    

“Looking at the challenges we are facing, we do not have the luxury of pessimism. We are on the cusp of a groundbreaking change that we cannot just observe from the sidelines, but that we, especially in Europe, must actively shape," DLD founder Steffi Czerny appealed to the DLD community at the House of Communications in Munich – a global community of outstanding minds that put solutions for the future up for discussion from the perspectives of research, business, art and politics.   

Europe must take technology into its own hands   

Among the bright minds, creative innovators and influential visionaries who gathered in Munich from 16 to 18 January ahead of the World Economic Forum in Davos were Google's Yossi Matias, Meredith Whittaker of the Signal Foundation, entrepreneur Verena Pausder, Harvard University's Martin Puchner, transformation researcher Maja Göpel, OpenAI's Colin Jarvis and Bündnis 90/Die Grünen's candidate for German chancellor Robert Habeck.   

Habeck, one of the final keynote speakers at the three-day conference, wants to "instil optimism in the people of Germany that we can solve our problems". Germany and Europe must lead from the front: "Technology defines our infrastructure and the way we communicate with each other. If we in Europe catch up in the technological race, we will have the future of our liberal democracy in our own hands. True freedom means having power over the rules that govern our lives.” 

Artificial intelligence makes giant leaps forward   

The BAIOSPHERE track, set up in collaboration with the Bavarian AI Network, focused on autonomous AI agents, robotics and quantum computing. Astro Teller, known as the "Captain of Moonshots" at X, the Moonshot Factory, explained that only radical innovation can overcome global challenges.    

A central theme of DLD Munich 25 was the responsible shaping of the future of AI, particularly by the global tech giants from the US. Tristan Harris of the Center for Humane Technology stressed that technology must serve humanity. Stanford professor Michal Kosinski spoke about large language models (LLMs) that will soon capture human psychology, cultural nuances and emotional aspects.    

Colin Jarvis of OpenAI presented advanced interactions with AI chatbots. These networks of AI agents will soon be able to handle complex and tedious tasks, representing a significant advance in the power of AI.    

Nature and technology can complement each other   

The 'Nature Track' at DLD Munich 25 focused on the protection of nature and biodiversity as the basis of human life.    

Sandrine Dixson-Déclève of the Club of Rome and André Hoffmann, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of the pharmaceutical company Roche, appealed to the technology elite to take nature into account in all economic decisions. He also urged to put the interests of humanity at the centre. Dixson-Déclève says: "Nature is at the core of our humanity; it is not a sideshow. We must bring the planet back into the equation.” 

The DLD conference, attended by some 2,000 people this year, was characterised by pragmatic optimism and a spirit of innovation. Technology can help us solve humanity's biggest problems. 

All pictures from the conference can be found here: Flickr

The DLD panels are here

Further information about DLD can be found here: DLD Conference: Digital-Life-Design 

 

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DLD founder and curator Steffi Czerny opens the 20th DLD Munich © Philipp Guelland for DLD / Hubert Burda Media 

Vice President, Google & Head of Google Research, Yossi Matias attending DLD Munich 25  © Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/Picture Alliance for DLD/Hubert Burda Media 

Learning from the past: Mitchell Baker from the Mozilla Foundation gives an outlook on the future of technology... ©Ulrike Froemel for DLD/Hubert Burda Media 

...together with Ester Dyson (Wellville) © Ulrike Froemel/Hubert Burda Media

Amazon CTO Werner Vogels shows which technological trends will ensure positive change in 2025 © Philipp Guelland for DLD / Hubert Burda Media 

Numerous guests accepted the invitation to the traditional state reception ©Dominik Gigler for DLD / Hubert Burda Media

What a surprise! Steffi Czerny happily shows her award to the participants of the state reception © Axel König

Full auditorium at the DLD BAIOSPHERE track on the first day © Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/Picture Alliance for DLD/Hubert Burda Media 

In keeping with the motto, Maja Göpel talks about how positive the future is © Philipp Guelland for DLD / Hubert Burda Media 

Maria Furtwängler (MaLisa Foundation) and Eckart von Hirschhausen welcome the audience to the Join Stage on the second day © Ulrike Froemel for DLD/Hubert Burda Media 

DLD Munich 25 with the motto “Future Positive” © Dominik Gigler for DLD / Hubert Burda Media 

Colin Jarvis from OpenAI talks about AI in the year 2025 © Philipp Guelland for DLD / Hubert Burda Media

Meredith Whittaker (Signal Foundation) during her talk on the topic of “Trust and private communication” © Ulrike Froemel for DLD/Hubert Burda Media 

300 guests attended the traditional Chairmen's Dinner © BrauerPhotos / G.Nitschke for Hubert Burda Media/ DLD 

Musical guest at the Chairmen's Dinner: music producer Nile Rodgers © BrauerPhotos / G.Nitschke for Hubert Burda Media/ DLD 

Chancellor candidate Robert Habeck (Bündnis90/ Die Grünen) inspires the audience in his keynote speech at DLD 2025 ©Sebastian Gabriel/Picture Alliance for DLD/Hubert Burda Media

Astro Teller, known as “Captain of Moonshots” at X, the Moonshot factory in conversation with Greg Williams from WIRED ©Philipp Guelland for DLD / Hubert Burda Media

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