Joining Smart Technologies: Digitalisation as a challenge and an opportunity

In his introductory talk, Kai Gondlach, futurologist at the think tank 2bAHEAD, posed the following questions: “What will happen in an age of artificial intelligence? What will happen if computers become more intelligent than people? Will our expertise, our knowledge, our ability to advise be lost?”

In their presentations, speakers from Daimler, Magna Steyr, Audi, VW and BMW responded to these considerations and spoke about solutions and ideas for meeting the demands and challenges of building the next generation of car bodies, characterised by the diverse mix of materials, a high degree of product complexity, a fast-moving environment on the ground and the challenges of digitalisation. Alexander Fickerl from BMW called for the speed advantage of Industry 4.0 to be harnessed to execute projects far more quickly and thus remain competitive. Alongside representatives from the OEMs, speakers from Tucker, ArcelorMittal, AIT, KUKA and Fanuc reported on technologies that car manufacturers could use to overcome precisely these challenges.

The conference also looked beyond technological developments alone to examine the ever more far-reaching consequences of the ceaseless drive towards digitalisation. “The greatest challenge will be defining and adhering to ethical and moral boundaries, if in the future, we are capable of making ourselves the second most intelligent species on the planet,” said Dr. Klaus Koglin during the podium discussion, placing the focus on societal changes that digitalisation will bring. We can eagerly wait to see which of the challenges and solutions of the future discussed will already be the present at the next automotive conference in two years’ time.