Prof. Dr. Harald Welzer

Direktor | FUTURZWEI. Stiftung Zukunftsfähigkeit

Prof. Welzer has long been exploring the social and political consequences of the digital transformation, including through his bestselling book *The Smart Dictatorship* (2016) and the founding of the “Council for Digital Ecology” (2020). As a social psychologist, he is interested not only in the effects of digital communication on our psyche but also in the changes occurring within behavioral norms in politics and society. The central question here is: Is democracy losing its fundamental prerequisite—citizens capable of making informed judgments?
This question has become particularly urgent as findings on the effects of digital media on the brain development of young people continue to accumulate. Is the greatest experiment in human history currently taking place here, with the neural architecture of the next generation being altered in an uncontrolled manner?

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Stage Program AI

Europas Zukunft im globalen Machtspiel

16:25-17:10

Harbour Stage

German

Europe stands at a turning point: Amid technological competition, geopolitical tensions, and growing uncertainty, the continent’s ability to shape its own future hangs in the balance. The panel will explore how Europe can build sovereignty—through AI, industrial strength, and comprehensive security strategies. Diverse perspectives from politics, business, and society will come together to highlight key conflicting objectives. The focus is on the question of what concrete decisions are needed now to ensure that Europe remains capable of acting, resilient, and globally relevant.