Many AI initiatives fail not because of the technology, but due to cultural barriers, unclear responsibilities, and fragmented data. At the Tech Leadership Conference at the Hasso Plattner Institute (#TLC2025), experts explored how organizations can turn AI potential into impact. The key insights: 1️⃣ Regulation as opportunity The EU AI Act is increasingly seen not as a barrier, but as a framework for trustworthy, high-quality AI. 2️⃣ From tools to agents Intelligent agents demand new orchestration models and raise questions around automation, oversight, and accountability. 3️⃣ Talent transformation As automation reduces manual coding, strategic thinking and systems understanding become key skills for tech teams. 4️⃣ Why AI pilots fail More than 85% of AI pilots in Germany never scale. As our managing director Swantje Kowarsch discussed in a panel with other experts: rapid adaptation, continued investment in skills, and creating a culture of trust are proving more decisive than single technology choices. The conversations at TLC2025 made it clear: navigating the AI era requires more than new tools — it demands structural, cultural, and leadership change.
