Agents & Agency –
The New Operating Model
The Handelsblatt AI Summit 2026 is the central point of reference for decision-makers who are strategically implementing AI. control, scale and translate into sustainable value creation and real competitive advantage.
Under the motto „Agents & Agency“ In 2026, the focus will be on developing a new operating model. The goal is to position organizations so that they can not only use AI to... not only more efficiently, but also faster, more adaptively and more independently.
They are therefore faced with the crucial challenge: the transition from isolated successes to a continuous, scalable, company-wide transformation. What is needed are new structures, clear responsibilities, and the ability to develop business models beyond mere efficiency.
2026 marks the turning point from efficiency to true transformation – with a focus on scaling and integration. Those who don't think outside the box will be overtaken by faster competitors.
The Handelsblatt AI Summit 2026 combines strategic orientation with specific decision-making aid and in 2026 it will not only be bigger, but above all more relevant for decision-makers who will discuss together how AI will become an integral part of the operating model and what course needs to be set now for long-term competitiveness.
TWO STAGES, TWO PERSPECTIVES, ONE SUMMIT
TODAY
From pilot projects to transformation
- Scaling of AI agents
- Best Cases & Lessons Learned
- Governance & Compliance
- Security & Sovereignty
- Operating Models & Leadership
TOMORROW
From trends to competitive advantages
- Technology radar & future trends
- Strategic decisions for tomorrow's competitiveness
- Data, platforms & skills
- Physical AI & autonomous systems
- New value creation & business models
The following speakers have confirmed their participation
other speakers
More than just a conference
Content & Perspective
- Business AND technology perspective
- Keeping pace with our key theme „Agents & Agency"
- Editorial independence and classification
- Critical discussions in formats that stick in the mind
- Leading business decision-makers with real learnings
- Implementation depth instead of mere inspiration
Experience & Format
- 600+ decision-makers on site
- Cross-industry exchange with leading figures
- Hands-on AI exhibition
- Start-up Area & Stage with curated idea pitches
- Variety of formats and interactivity
- High-quality catering and evening event
Physical AI only scales with real added value if AI agents not only learn movements but also understand machines and their technical interrelationships. This requires transforming scattered engineering and product data into reliable, usable product understanding.
Physical AI doesn't learn in the lab. It learns in real-world operations. Every part is different, there's no fixed sequence, no script. The more stations are running in actual production, the more data is generated, and the faster the path to full autonomy.
The year 2027 will be the decisive turning point for companies that manage the transition to successfully and profitably deploy AI in their core value-creating processes.
The next decade of AI will not just be won by those who built the underlying technology, but by those who built the workforce capability, and the institutions, to benefit from it.
Europe talks about AI sovereignty, while its most successful AI startups run on US models and US infrastructure. As long as we don't bridge this gap between ambition and market reality, sovereignty will remain just a buzzword.
Sovereignty and resilience determine whether companies merely use AI or strategically master it. Technological capability thus becomes a key prerequisite for AI value creation.
Guided by "Be Digital. Stay Human.", I see technology as a means to empower people and strengthen trust in a digital world. Innovation creates real value when it delivers benefits and is based on strong values.
Every week that a workforce doesn't use AI is a week of lost experience. Competitiveness doesn't depend on who buys the best technology, but on who learns fastest as an organization.
The future of retail is not about helping customers find products but helping them find inspiration. AI becomes truly valuable when it transforms transactions into engaging, personalized experiences.
Future-proof AI systems are modular and rely on open standards: Those who can exchange models and components at any time remain sovereign – both technologically and economically.
The race for AI is in full swing, and we in Germany still have a chance. However, only if we finally transform ourselves from tool tourists into application world champions!
Pilots impress. Harmonized, scaled processes deliver EBIT.
The AI Labs' AI race is not our race. Our race is the most meaningful adoption, with measurable value.
We not only need to learn how to deal with AI, but also develop our own decision-making style! Because: Those who decide shape the future. Those who hesitate react to it.
Following the widespread adoption of Generative and Agentic AI, companies now face the challenge of how and in which areas real AI value creation can take place.
Most organizations are not losing to AI. They are losing their own ability to decide.
The question is no longer whether companies will use AI, but whom they will trust. Those who don't control access to, rules for, and pricing of their models have already relinquished control.
The AI transformation offers the BMW Group the opportunity to establish a new operating model and to efficiently scale AI agents – as a basis for sustainable value creation.
Will communicators be replaced by AI? It depends – on their self-image and on whether they can effectively combine human and technical strengths.
AI is not merely an efficiency tool, but a driver of change. It delivers the greatest added value when companies rethink their business and customer experiences – through the interplay of people, data, and AI.
AI is the topic of the moment, a great opportunity to drive innovation on a massive scale. Let's make Germany an AI nation!
Those who want to make good decisions for themselves and their company need to understand more than just the current state of technology. At the AI Summit, we'll discuss the developments that are now possible – and how we can seize these new opportunities.
AI leadership means taking the lead. Making your own path visible. And demanding that everyone in the company rethink work with and through AI. Those who delegate AI lose. Those who lead it win.
The business model of the past is no longer viable – now we must adapt processes and organizations to the age of agents in order to secure Europe's leading economic position.
The next phase of the AI revolution is beginning, with more power, more opportunities, but also higher risks.
Artificial intelligence is developing rapidly. It is crucial to learn from each other and share experiences early on.
The AI Summit 2025 summarized in ShareNotes
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