Karlsruhe, July 7, 2026 – Artificial intelligence has been dominating the headlines for years—with grand promises, ambitious visions, and, not infrequently, a disappointing reality. But what can AI actually accomplish today? Which systems work reliably, and which approaches stand up to critical scrutiny? These are precisely the questions that the 7th Franco-German AI Conference, AIxIA 2026, will address when it takes place on October 22, 2026, at the Palais de la Musique et des Congrès in Strasbourg.

AIxIA 2026 is once again being organized by DIZ | Digitales Innovationszentrum GmbH (DIZ) in cooperation with its French partner Grand Est Développement as part of the European Digital Innovation Hub AI & Cybersecurity (EDIH-AICS) and in collaboration with the national de:hub Applied AI Karlsruhe.

Real value, not just hype

The 7th edition is deliberately taking a new approach: moving away from hype and toward substance. The focus is on AI applications that are already working today—concrete use cases, robust systems, and decisions that stand up to critical scrutiny. No marketing promises, no buzzwords. Instead, honest debates and actionable insights.

High-profile speakers underscore the relevance and significance of the event. This year’s thematic highlights include, among others:

• AI Under Attack: Security Risks and Emerging Threat Vectors
• Powering the Future: AI for Critical Infrastructure and Energy Sovereignty
• Building Trusted AI Together: Franco-German Cooperation in Europe

AIxIA 2025 drew over 250 participants from Germany, France, and other European countries to the Smart Production Park in Karlsruhe. Under the theme “Beyond Intelligence – The Next Era of AI,” the event focused not only on technological innovations but also on issues of trust, security, and social responsibility. High-profile keynote speeches—including those by Ulrich Schmidt of Bosch Mobility and Lucilla Sioli, Director of the AI Office at the European Commission—as well as interactive breakout sessions and panel discussions on AI ethics and the public sector made the event a widely acclaimed success.

Über AIxIA
Since 2019, the AIxIA Conference has been promoting Franco-German and European cooperation in the fields of AI research, ethics, regulation, and innovation. As a major platform, it brings together national and European stakeholders to advance responsible and sustainable AI strategies for business and society.

Über EDIH-AICS

EDIH-AICS 2.0 is a European project supporting SMEs, small mid-caps and public sector organisations in the adoption and use of artificial intelligence. It provides a connected one-stop shop with services for trustworthy, secure and sustainable AI technologies. The project (Grant Agreement No. 101256788) is funded under the Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL) by the European Commission and co-funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism. The project and its services are delivered by a consortium of nine partners from Karlsruhe.