As the academic lead of the Center for Technology‑driven Social Innovation (CTSi), Assoc. Prof. DI Dr. Hilda Tellioğlu significantly shaped the 1st Future Talks by the Lake on 4 September 2025 with her keynote contribution. The event, held under the theme “Future Challenges in the World of Work” and organized by the Production Union of Carinthia (PRO‑GE Kärnten) and the Institute for Social Policy (IGES), brought together representatives from trade unions, politics, academia, and industry at the PRO‑GE Recreation and Education Center in Krumpendorf at Lake Wörthersee.
Under the title “The Computer as a Miracle Weapon in Industry!? Can AI Improve Our Work or Will We Face Many Problems?”, Tellioğlu highlighted key challenges associated with AI‑supported work. She illustrated how AI can strengthen knowledge managementand organizational learning, emphasized the importance of reskilling and upskilling strategies for employees, and underscored the need for clear rules regarding data ownership, model training, and intellectual property. She also addressed how AI affects professional identity and belonging, and discussed the importance of interorganizational standards, transparent technical infrastructures, and safeguarding human decision‑making authority in critical situations. Additionally, she examined cultural and organizational dimensions—from the value of cultural translation work to the promotion of inclusion and diversity, as well as the role of transparency and trustfor effective AI adoption. She concluded by stressing that the path toward meaningful and responsible AI use requires a comprehensive transformation process involving broad stakeholder engagement, pilot projects, and ongoing evaluation and reflection.
The keynote formed part of a broader program that included opening remarks by Gernot Kleißner (PRO‑GE Kärnten), welcoming statements by AK President Günther Goach and Carinthian Governor Peter Kaiser, as well as additional expert talks on topics such as digitalization and robotics. The event concluded with opportunities for discussion, exchange, and networking.
CTSi extends its appreciation to PRO‑GE Kärnten, IGES, and the participating partner organizations for fostering this important dialogue on the future of work and looks forward to continued collaboration.
More Information: https://www.proge.at/articles/2025/zukunftsgespraeche-pro-ge-kaernten
Tellioğlu, H., (2025). Der Computer als Wunderwaffe in der Industrie? Kann KI unsere Arbeit verbessern oder müssen wir uns auf viele Probleme einstellen? Vortrag bei den Zukunftsgesprächen am See, Pro-Ge, September 4, 2025, Krumpendorf, Austria.