- All Events
- 20th European Trend Day
20th European Trend Day
SOLD OUT
Please contact etd@gdi.ch for the waiting list.
AI Buddy: Redefining Social Relationships
Yesterday’s science fiction is today’s reality. AI is making its way into our lives and workplaces. Artificial intelligence is learning fast – and getting better, smarter and more sensitive. It can take on more and more tasks, act as a co-pilot to assist us or even take the helm itself. AI will transform business and society. But what about us humans?
While we already know a fair amount about what AI will do in the future and where it will soon surpass us, we know little about what AI will do to us as humans as we increasingly interact with it, be this at work, in our personal lives, during our education, when shopping, on our travels or during play.
-
How will AI change social relationships and communication between people?
-
How will we develop trust in future? And how will loyalty develop?
-
How are relationships changing – between companies and customers and between organisations and employees?
-
How can AI help overcome social challenges and solve global problems?
The 20th European Trend Day addresses these questions. We show how human intelligence and artificial intelligence are embracing the future together. And we explain where personal relationships will continue to make the difference, and how our very personal relationship with our software-driven co-pilots will evolve. We present the latest research findings and the most exciting AI start-ups.
This leading trend conference is relevant for anyone interested in the future of social relationships and provides exciting interdisciplinary insights for representatives from various sectors such as marketing, retail, consulting, finance and health. Our conference focuses on people, not just technology.
Der Europäische Trendtag findet auf Deutsch und Englisch statt (mit Simultanübersetzung).
Hashtag: #trendday2024
Read more about:
Daron Acemoglu
MIT Professor Daron Acemoglu knows what opportunities and benefits artificial intelligence will bring in the future. Read more about Daron Acemoglu
Hannah Fry
According to Hannah Fry, a professor at University College London, we tend to view algorithms as a kind of authority rather than questioning their power. Read more about Hannah Fry
Petter Bae Brandtzaeg
The Professor of Media Innovation at the University of Oslo, explains his experiences with relationships with different AI companions in an interview and at the 20th European Trend Day. Zum Interview
Speakers
Daron Acemoglu is one of the world's 10 most cited economists and author of six books, including New York Times bestseller "Why Nations Fail: Power, Prosperity, and Poverty". In his new book "Power and Progress", he shows us how technology has historically been used to benefit a select few, and how to turn today’s advances into empowering and democratising tools.
Hannah Frys Forschung fokussiert sich auf ein breites Spektrum sozialer Probleme und Fragen, vom Einkaufen und Verkehr bis hin zu städtischer Kriminalität, Unruhen und Terrorismus. Sie ist Bestseller-Autorin, preisgekrönte Wissenschaftsmoderatorin und Host zahlreicher beliebter Podcasts und Fernsehsendungen. Ihr Buch «Hello World: How to be Human in the Age of the Machine» wurde in die engere Wahl für mehrere der renommiertesten Sachbuchpreise der Welt aufgenommen und erhielt 2020 den Asimov-Preis.

Stefano Puntoni
Professor for Marketing
The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
USA
Website
Stefano Puntoni is the Sebastian S. Kresge Professor of Marketing and a behavioral scientist at The Wharton School. His research investigates how new technology is changing consumption and society and has appeared in several leading journals, including "Journal of Consumer Research", "Journal of Marketing Research" or "Journal of Marketing". He also writes regularly for managerial outlets such as "Harvard Business Review" and "MIT Sloan Management Review".
Alison Darcy is the founder and president of Woebot Health, a company focused on making mental health care radically accessible. She is a clinical research psychologist and health tech visionary who has spent more than two decades exploring the intersection of AI and healthcare, and how digital treatments can help solve human problems. Alison’s post doctoral training at Stanford School of Medicine led to her work with AI pioneer Andrew Ng, whose Health Innovation Lab in Computer Science she led. Alison was named to the TIME100 AI List and received the 2023 UCD Alumni Award in Social Sciences.
In 2019, Michael Musandu co-founded Lalaland which aims to make fashion more inclusive and diverse. Lalaland’s generative AI creates digital avatars that enable e-commerce to present products on different body types and people. It has raised up to USD 4 million from investors including Google and has garnered international recognition, serving global brands and gaining coverage in publications such as BBC News, Vogue Business or The Guardian. In 2023, Michael was included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list.
Petter Bae Brandtzaeg ist Professor für Medieninnovation an der Universität von Oslo und leitender Wissenschaftler bei SINTEF Digital. Seine Forschung beschäftigt sich damit, wie Menschen mit sozialen Medien und künstlicher Intelligenz interagieren und von ihnen beeinflusst werden, und prägt das Verständnis der ethischen und gesellschaftlichen Auswirkungen von KI-Technologien. Über seine Arbeit wurde in internationalen Zeitungen wie «The Guardian» und «The New York Times» berichtet.

Niels Van Quaquebeke
Professor of Leadership and Organizational Behavior
Kühne Logistics University
Germany
Website
Niels Van Quaquebeke is Professor of Leadership and Organizational Behavior and Head of the Department of Leadership and Management at the KLU. He is also Distinguished Research Professor at the University of Exeter. Niels is widely regarded one of the most influential German business scholars and has earned a reputation as one of the most thought-provoking academics in his field. As such, his work is frequently mentioned in pubic media outlets such as Wall Street Journal or Harvard Business Review or German outlets such as Die ZEIT, die Welt, or BrandEins.

Nils Köbis
Professor for the Human Understanding of Algorithms and Machines
University Duisburg-Essen
Germany
Website
Nils Köbis is a Professor for the Human Understanding of Algorithms and Machines at the Research Center Trustworthy Data Science and Security, University Duisburg-Essen, and an affiliated researcher at the Center for Humans and Machines (Max Planck Institute for Human Development). His work deals with corruption, (un-)ethical behavior, social norms, and, more recently, artificial intelligence. He is a co-founder of the Interdisciplinary Corruption Research Network and, together with Matthew Stephenson and Christopher Starke founded and co-hosted the KickBack - Global AntiCorruption Podcast.
Loczniki is a Polish dance duo consisting of Loczek and Nicki. They specialize in a dance style called popping and are primarily known for their presence on social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. On TikTok, the pair has gained significant popularity internationally imitating characters from video games and anime movies, with over 3 million followers and 121.1 million likes.
Als Principal Researcher analysiert die Ökonomin Trends und Gegentrends in Wirtschaft, Gesellschaft und Konsum und referiert zu diesen Themen regelmässig auf Kongressen. Frick befasste sich in verschiedenen Funktionen mit Zukunftsthemen, gesellschaftlichem Wandel, Innovation und Veränderungen von Menschen und Märkten. Sie war als Chef-Redaktorin der renommierten Vierteljahresschrift «GDI Impuls» und als Geschäftsführerin der Schweizerischen Vereinigung für Zukunftsforschung (swissfuture) tätig.
Moderation
Tama Vakeesan presents various programmes on Radio SRF1 and is one of the most popular presenters in Switzerland. Her career began at the youth station Joiz, and she gained additional experience at live events, on television, online and on the radio.
Programme
08.30
Welcome Coffee
09.00
Introduction
Lukas Jezler, CEO, Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute
Tama Vakeesan, Moderator
09.10
Keynote
Daron Acemoglu, Professor of Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT
Pro-human AI: Using Technological Progress for Society-Wide Empowerment
Digital technologies and artificial intelligence can be redirected to benefit most people.
Keynote
Hannah Fry, Professor in the Mathematics of Cities, University College London
In Dubio Pro Algo? How to be Human in the Age of the Machine
As we rely more and more on AI to automate big, important decisions – from crime to healthcare – we have to decide how our society shall look like.
10.30
Break
11.00
Karin Frick, Principal Researcher, Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute
In & Out of Control: How AI is Changing Social Relationships
Sure, artificial intelligence is creating new dynamics between humans and machines. But how will AI influence the dynamics between humans and other humans?
Petter Bae Brandtzaeg, Professor in Media Innovation, University of Oslo
My AI Friend:The Future of Friendship and Social Relationships
With machines and software becoming part of our social capital, new models of relationships emerge – and also new challenges.
Alison Darcy, Founder and President, Woebot Health
AI and Humanity: A Relationship for the Future
Artificial intelligence has enormous potential to break down barriers in mental health and contribute to human wellbeing.
12.30
Networking Lunch
14.00
Stefano Puntoni, Professor of Marketing, The Wharton School
(via livestream)
Pride Against the Machine: How AI Affects Our Sense of Self
Interactions with artificial intelligence influence feelings about ourselves and our business actions.
Michael Musandu, CEO and Founder, Lalaland
A Supermodel for Everyone: How Digital Avatars Make Fashion More Inclusive
AI enables fashion designers to fit their clothes to any body and skin type – embracing diversity and reducing production costs.
Performance and conversation
Oskar Szymkowksi and Nicole Hoff, Performance Artists, Loczniki
New Liaisons: Blending Virtual and Real Life
15.30
Break
16.00
Nils Köbis, Professor for the Human Understanding of Algorithms and Machines, University Duisburg-Essen
AI as an Influencer: Rolls, Risks and Regulations
How artificial intelligence shapes our moral choices and which regulations can help.
Niels Van Quaquebeke, Professor of Leadership and Organizational Behavior, Kühne Logistics University
Bot Boss: The Rise of Digital Leaders
You may think that «true» leadership will always be a task for humans –
for humans like yourself. Well, think again: AI will take over and change leadership as we know it.
17.00
Networking Drinks
Information
Date
13 March 2024
Venue
GDI Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute
Langhaldenstrasse 21
8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland

Languages
German and English with simultaneous translation
Programme changes
The programme is subject to change. Should an event not take place, the participation fee will be refunded. Further claims are ruled out.
Cancellation
If you are unable to attend, please cancel your registration in writing. The participation fee will be refunded up to thirty days before the event. After that and up to five full working days before the event, we will charge 75%, and for cancellations after that we will charge the full amount. A substitute participant is always welcome.
Hotelreservation
Damit Sie in unseren Partner-Hotels von Spezialpreisen profitieren, erwähnen Sie bei der Zimmerbuchung bitte den Code ETD2024.
Hotel Sedartis, Thalwil: info@sedartis.ch
Hotel Belvoir, Rüschlikon: info@hotel-belvoir.ch
Hotel Alex Lake Zürich, Thalwil: reservations@alexlakezurich.com
Arrival
From Zurich Airport
A taxi will take you to the GDI and the partner hotels in around 45 minutes at around CHF 100, depending on traffic. The S-Bahn will take you quickly and conveniently to Zurich and Thalwil station.
.
Ab Bahnhof Thalwil
Für Fahrten zwischen dem Bahnhof Thalwil / Hotel Sedartis und dem GDI steht ein kostenloser Shuttlebus zur Verfügung. Er wartet auf der Seeseite des Bahnhofs. Ein Mitarbeiter empfängt Sie vor Ort.
Thalwil train station – GDI: 08.00 – 08.45, every 15 minutes
GDI – Thalwil train station: 17.00 – 18.45, every 15 minutes
Das Hotel Belvoir befindet sich in Gehdistanz zum GDI.
Parken
Das Parkdeck befindet sich fünf Gehminuten vom GDI entfernt an der Zürcherstrasse 4, 8803 Rüschlikon. Ein kostenfreies Ausfahrtticket erhalten Sie im GDI.
Image and video recording
Please note that images and video recordings will be made during the event, and may be published permanently on the Internet after the event. You consent with this procedure by participating in the event.
Allgemeine Geschäftsbedingungen
Media partner

Über den Europäischen Trendtag
Der Europäische Trendtag ist eine Konferenz zu Digitalisierung und Gesellschaft. Mit wechselndem Fokus-Thema werden technologische Innovationen und ihre Auswirkungen auf Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft diskutiert. Die Referenten erkunden neue Möglichkeitsräume des heute noch Undenkbaren und Unvorstellbaren. Teilnehmende sind Führungskräfte aus Marketing, Handel und Beratung sowie Unternehmer, Akademiker und Journalisten von Qualitätsmedien.
Participants
Führungskräfte
ReferentInnen
Impressionen
Photo gallery 20th European Trend Day
Interview with Alison Darcy
Interview with Petter Bae Brandtzaeg
















