MEET OUR SPEAKERS

Alexander Schmitt has over 15 years of experience in Voice Assistants, Voice AI research, and product development. He began his career at the University of Ulm, joining Germany’s first spoken dialog system research lab in 2007, where he pursued a PhD on AI-driven Speech Dialog Systems in collaboration with New York-based SpeechCycle Inc.

In 2012, Alex joined Mercedes-Benz, contributing to research, advanced engineering, and product development for next-generation in-car voice assistants and emotion AI. A prolific author, Alex has published over 60 international papers in voice assistant-related fields. He currently leads the development of the next-gen #HeyMercedes Voice Assistant, working with a talented team of software developers, data scientists, and product owners to push the boundaries of conversational AI.

Aura Hita Losa is a CX Automations Specialist at On, where she leverages over a decade of global digital expertise and more than five years in the Conversational AI industry. As a CX advocate and seasoned marketer, Aura is passionate about advancing Conversational Automation to elevate customer-brand interactions through cutting-edge AI technologies.

Her work focuses on crafting meaningful conversations by understanding user experience (UX) and cross-cultural consumer behavior. Aura’s dedication to fostering impactful and innovative solutions reflects her commitment to transforming the way brands engage with their customers, creating seamless and personalized interactions that leave a lasting impression.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Gerhard Wunder is a Professor of Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence at Freie Universität Berlin, leading the Cybersecurity and AI (C-AI) Group.

Supported by Bundesdruckerei GmbH, his group focuses on AI with cybersecurity and cybersecurity through AI, hosting the Center for Trustworthy AI at the university. Prof. Wunder's research encompasses generative AI, resilient networks, privacy-preserving synthetic data, explainability and fairness in AI, quantum crypto analysis, AI engines for anomaly detection, cybersecurity architectures in IoT, AI-assisted device biometrics, and low-resource federated learning with blockchains.

His work bridges the gap between advanced AI technologies and practical cybersecurity solutions, driving progress in creating secure and intelligent systems for real-world applications. Prof. Wunder is dedicated to promoting innovation in AI and cybersecurity, making significant contributions to both academic research and industry practices.

Stefanie Söhnchen is Vice President Strategy / Lead Digital at PIABO Communications, the leading communications agency for the world’s most innovative companies. She has been a recognized expert in digital communication strategies for over a decade. Whether it's corporate ambassador programs, social media, newsletters, app and website concepts, content development, SEO, or storytelling – when it comes to strategic (digital) communications at PIABO, all roads lead to her.
With a background in multimedia journalism, Stefanie combines editorial expertise with a strong strategic mindset. Throughout her career, she has successfully supported companies across a wide range of industries – including insurance, energy, automotive, tech, beauty, and healthcare – in strengthening their digital brand presence. Her broad perspective on what drives success in both German and international markets makes her a sought-after strategic partner.
Outside the world of digital strategy, Stefanie is a passionate foodsaver and advocates for sustainability, equality, and diversity – in both her professional and personal life.

Clara Rizzo is a Global Customer Service Project Specialist at On, where she drives transformative AI and automation solutions for customer service teams across EMEA, NA, and APAC regions. Passionate about enhancing customer service experiences, Clara excels in understanding the unique needs of diverse teams and shaping automation strategies that align with customer experience goals.

With a strong focus on innovation, process optimization, and stakeholder collaboration, Clara is dedicated to delivering impactful solutions that improve efficiency and drive business growth. Her expertise in AI automation, project management, and team leadership makes her a valuable force in revolutionizing customer service processes on a global scale.

Thomas Neumann is a visionary leader in leveraging new technologies to transform customer experiences, with a focus on digital channels that create the "wow" effect. As a driving force behind global chatbot and voice assistant solutions, he is passionate about innovations that enhance customer satisfaction and boost Net Promoter Scores (NPS).

With over 15 years of experience in the mobile industry, Thomas brings a unique blend of international expertise, diverse roles, and exceptional interpersonal skills to the table. His work bridges the transition from traditional app-based solutions to cutting-edge conversational interfaces, enabling businesses to navigate the evolving digital landscape and deliver impactful, customer-focused results.

Jan Zubíček serves as AI Business Strategist at ČSOB, Czech Republic's leading bankinsurance group and part of KBC Group, where he bridges technical capabilities with business objectives to shape and execute strategic AI initiatives. With over 20 years of experience spanning IT, data, and AI domains, he played a key role in bringing Kate to life - ČSOB's groundbreaking conversational AI assistant that has handled over 10 million customer interactions and set new industry standards for personalized banking services.

His current focus is on advancing conversational AI as a transformative force for both customer and employee experience, identifying opportunities where AI creates value and guiding implementation across the organization. This includes product ownership of MyKate, an internal LLM-based assistant that enhances employee productivity across customer service, daily operations, and content generation tasks. His expertise combines deep technical knowledge with strategic business insight, gained from working with both startups and enterprise organizations throughout his career.

Peter M. Buch is the founder of Findable, an AI-SEO platform making brands discoverable in ChatGPT and other AI search engines. A serial entrepreneur and Forbes 30 Under 30 alum, he explores how agentic AI is reshaping marketing and customer growth.