Key Highlights:
- Six Stages, 250 Speakers, 300 Partners, 250 Masterclasses
- Star Guests: Julian Nagelsmann, Dirk Nowitzki, Meredith Whittaker, Hendrik Wüst
- Inaugural Digital X Summit: Over 350 leaders discuss Germany’s digital future
Digital X 2024 transformed Cologne’s city center into a vibrant hub for digital innovation, drawing approximately 50,000 visitors. Attendees engaged with cutting-edge technologies, such as AI avatars, city-cleaning robots, and AI-assisted health checks. The event featured notable personalities, including sports legends Dirk Nowitzki and Julian Nagelsmann, Signal President Meredith Whittaker, and NRW Minister President Hendrik Wüst.
Launch of the Digital X Summit: Shaping Germany’s Digital Agenda
This year’s event commenced with the first-ever Digital X Summit, where over 350 influential figures from business, politics, and academia convened. Discussions centered on artificial intelligence, digital competence, and digital sovereignty, emphasizing the need for collaboration and investment to drive Germany’s digital transformation. Participants highlighted the importance of sharing knowledge among industry leaders, researchers, and startups while promoting digital education to allay fears surrounding technological advancements. Strengthening cybersecurity, particularly for SMEs, was identified as crucial to maintaining Europe’s technological independence.
Klaus Werner: “Two Million Hands for Digitization”
Klaus Werner, Managing Director of Business Customers at Telekom Deutschland and patron of the Digital X Initiative, underscored the importance of collective action for digital progress. He urged visitors to not just talk about digitization but to actively participate, asserting, “If each guest connects with an average of 20 others, we’ll have two million hands for digitalization.”
Tim Höttges: “Be the Change!”
In his address, Deutsche Telekom CEO Tim Höttges addressed societal issues beyond digitalization, urging individuals to take proactive steps toward change instead of waiting for external solutions.
Prominent Speakers and a Successful Masterclass Format
Across six stages, 250 speakers explored critical trends in sustainability, security, connected business, and the future of work. NRW Minister President Hendrik Wüst called for enhanced digital skills, infrastructure, and security to leverage AI effectively. Meredith Whittaker expressed optimism about technological advancements, while Julian Nagelsmann emphasized a solution-focused mindset in addressing digitalization challenges. Dirk Nowitzki highlighted the significance of mentorship in guiding young athletes.
In addition to the main stage presentations, over 250 masterclasses allowed attendees to delve into specialized topics led by experts from partner organizations, including Fresenius University of Applied Sciences and Deutsche Telekom.
Innovative AI Experiences
Attendees also interacted with groundbreaking technologies, such as the AI avatar “Judy,” who answered questions about the event, and “Butty,” a robot designed for urban cleaning. The humanoid robot “NAO” entertained visitors with dance, while augmented reality laptops showcased the future of mobile work. The healthcare sector’s growing reliance on AI was also demonstrated, with visitors witnessing automated health check analyses firsthand.
