War for AI Talent – How AI is Changing the Way We Work
UPDATE: The event is currently fully booked, but there’s still a chance to attend: when registered guests cancel their tickets, we will personally review and confirm new participants from the waiting list. If you haven’t secured a spot yet, we encourage you to join the waiting list — selected attendees will be notified individually as spaces become available.
The War for AI Talent is reshaping industries, redefining skills, and transforming how organizations attract, develop, and retain top minds. As artificial intelligence moves from research labs into everyday business operations, the global demand for AI expertise is skyrocketing and competition for talent has never been more intense.
Hosted by Young AI Leaders Linz, part of United Nations’ AI for Good initiative, this flagship event will convene leaders from Big Tech, BIg Four, MBB, academia, industry, and emerging talent for an afternoon of panels, keynotes, and interactive networking.
Agenda
14:15–15:00 | Check-in & Welcome
Participant registration and networking.15:00–15:15 | Welcome Words
Opening remarks and introduction to the event.15:15–15:30 | Keynote 1
Sebastian Eckler (Country Manager, AWS Austria)15:30–16:10 | Panel 1 – Europe’s AI Turning Point: Talent, Capital and the Global Race for Leadership
16:10–16:20 | Q&A
16:20–16:35 | Break
16:35–16:50 | Keynote 2
Lukas Schuster (Co-Founder & CEO, Syntactiq)16:50–17:30 | Panel 2 – The AI Skills Revolution: Rethinking Education, Careers and the Future of Work
17:30–17:40 | Q&A
17:40–17:55 | Closing Remarks & Partner Recognition
Final reflections and acknowledgments, including a short impulse from a surprise guest.From 18:00 | AI Talent Area & Buffet (LIT OIC Foyer)
Interactive networking with companies, institutions, and 200+ AI students, graduates, and young professionals.From 18:15 | Leadership Reception (invite only)
Welcome followed by an impulse talk from Sepp Hochreiter and networking dinner until 21:00.
Confirmed Speakers:
Maimuna Mosser, Country Director, Google Austria
Hermann Erlach, General Manager, Microsoft Austria
Sebastian Eckler, Country Manager, Amazon Web Services
Sepp Hochreiter, Head of the Bilateral AI Cluster of Excellence & Co-Founder, NXAI
Gordon Meyer, Director AI Product Innovation, Dynatrace
Anna Maria Brunnhofer-Pedemonte, CEO & Founder, Impact AI
Andreas Hladky, Partner & Digital Consulting Lead, PwC Austria
Patrick Wollner, Associate Partner, McKinsey Austria
Fredrik Debong, Venture Capitalist & Serial Entrepreneur, Nineteen Twenty-One
Lukas Schuster, Co-Founder & CEO, Syntactiq
Barbara Krumay, Partner, EDIH ai5production
Christoph Knogler, Board Member Federation of Austrian Industries & CEO, Keba Group
Attendance is free of charge but requires a valid registration and confirmation via the official event page. Entry to the venue will only be possible with a valid ticket (QR code).