As a regular participant in the Global Solutions Summit, I walked away once again with the sense that these two days were time well spent. Insightfull discussions, honest reflections, and valuable new connections—not just with people, but with ideas and actions that demand our attention.
One topic that stood out for me in particular: the future of work in the age of AI.
It’s not a future that’s far away. It’s already here as most of us know, and changing faster than many organizations, institutions, and societies are prepared for. What we do in the next five years will be decisive.
There was broad agreement: by the end of this decade, every profession will be touched by AI. Some will be transformed. Some will be displaced. But the impact will be felt everywhere.
That’s not necessarily bad news—but it does mean we need to act with intention. The current skill gap is already visible, especially in sectors like the Mittelstand—Germany’s small and medium-sized enterprises—which often lack the time, resources, or expertise to integrate AI meaningfully.
An important initiative helping to explore and navigate this transition is the Observatory for Artificial Intelligence in Work and Society in Germany. The Observatory is looking at how AI impacts both jobs and broader social systems. Its work is structured into five focus areas:
The German AI Observatory also collaborates closely with AI Watch, aligning efforts on shared challenges and research. It’s a strong example of how policy, research, and international collaboration can come together to address these complex questions with care and direction.
What’s needed now is a two-pronged strategy:
,At the same time, we must strengthen AI literacy—not just technical skills, but also a basic understanding of how AI systems work, their limits, and how to engage with them responsibly.
What became clear during many of the discussions: AI has become a dividing line. Some people are inspired and energized by the pace of innovation and the opportunities it creates. Others are unsure—or even fearful—about what it means for their work, their role, or their ability to keep up.
This tension is real. The session but also discussions during the breaks, reflected uncertantiy and fear. And this deserves attention.
We can’t just celebrate the breakthroughs—we also need to support those who feel left behind. That means better communication, more inclusive access to learning, and a shared sense of responsibility from government, business, and civil society.
One hopeful idea echoed throughout the Summit: if we do this right, AI could take over routine, time-consuming tasks and create more space for what makes us human—collaboration, empathy, creativity, and care.
The phrase that stuck with me:
"People won’t lose jobs to AI—they’ll lose them to people who know how to use AI better."
This is why soft skills—often undervalued—are becoming central to the future of work:
These are the skills that can’t be automated—and they’re exactly what we’ll need more of as machines take on more of the analytical or procedural load.
Alongside skills and systems, the Summit also raised an issue that cuts across every border: the global tech regulatory landscape.
If AI is trained on data from all over the world, who decides what’s fair, what’s legitimate, and what’s off-limits?
We need clarity around fundamental questions:
These questions are not just technical. They’re political, legal, and social. And they need to be addressed now—not once damage is already done.
There’s no single roadmap for what comes next. But the Global Solutions Summit made it clear: people around the world are ready to have the hard conversations—and to push for smart, inclusive, and fair solutions.
We’ll need global cooperation, bold regulation, better skills training, and above all: a shared commitment to keeping humans at the center of technological progress.
The next few years will shape the next few decades. Let’s make sure we’re not just reacting to change, but helping shape it—for the better.
Stay tuned—Article Two will focus on the Circular Economy, another key topic that deserves its own space.
Keep the conversation going using #GSS2025 and #BridgingDivides. Let’s stay connected—and keep doing the work.
Ping me if you want to discuss further. I am here ;)
