The Federal Government's Digital Summit: Has the AI ​​train already left Germany?

Digital Summit of the Federal Government Has the AI ​​train left Germany yet? As of: November 2, 2026 • 5:19 a.m

The federal government invites you to the digital summit in Berlin. The focus of the two-day conference is the question of how Germany and Europe can have a global say on the topic of artificial intelligence.

There is sometimes the feeling that Germany is left behind when it comes to digital. However, the registrations for the Federal Government's digital summit speak a different language: "We are sold out, almost 'over-sold out'. The demand was greater than we could meet it," says Federal Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger (CDU).

He is hosting the summit, which is taking place today and tomorrow in Berlin. He is expecting dozens of guests from all over the world: digital ministers from France, the Netherlands and Canada will be there. The CEOs of numerous tech companies and scientists. Last but not least, Chancellor Friedrich Merz should also stop by.

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They should all exchange ideas at panel discussions, at keynotes and at trade fair stands. The core topic is once again the long-running favorite this year: artificial intelligence.

The question that particularly arises is how Germany and Europe can also have a say when it comes to AI. Karsten Wildberger's expectation is to create a spirit of optimism when it comes to AI. “How can we build on what has already started today in order to continue to be at the forefront of artificial intelligence,” said the minister.

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In fact, a lot has happened in Germany when it comes to digital: German companies play an important role in using AI in industry. Germans are founding AI start-ups in droves. Politicians have launched a data center strategy.

However, some people doubt that Germany is at the forefront. One of the core problems: When it comes to AI, Germany and Europe are still dependent on the USA. That's where the big tech companies from OpenAI to Nvidia make the big money, that's where the data centers are, that's where the "state of the art" is set with every new AI program. If you want to take part in this, you have to buy “Made in America”.

A situation that is also observed at the Agora Digital Transformation think tank in Berlin. Managing director Stefan Heumann summarizes the development since the last digital summit a year ago: "Unfortunately, we are not very confident." This was discussed very prominently last year, says Heumann. "Not much has really happened since then. You could actually say that the dependencies have increased even further."

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This is particularly clear when it comes to investments. Agora Digital Transformation combed through the federal budget and added up every euro that flows into the area of ​​AI. The result: According to the think tank, the state is investing around 800 million euros in artificial intelligence projects - 0.15 percent of the federal budget.

Especially compared to the astronomical sums that Big Tech throws around in the USA, this sum is hardly worth mentioning. According to Agora Digital Transformation, Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft and Meta alone are investing the equivalent of 655 billion euros in AI this year - that's more than the entire federal budget.

However, it's not just about finances, emphasizes Digital Minister Wildberger in the report from Berlin: "It's not always just a question of money, but also a question of mindset. That means: Are we brave enough to really embrace this technology and use the possibilities? I think we have some catching up to do."

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There is also a need to catch up in the economy. Bernhard Rohleder is the managing director of Bitkom, the industry association for the digital economy. He makes it concrete: "We are dependent in the area of ​​artificial intelligence when it comes to importing or purchasing so-called basic models, i.e. the large models that are based, among others, on ChatGPT or Claude from Anthropic or DeepSeek from China. We can't do that in Germany the way others can."

The train hasn't left for Germany, says Rohleder: "The AI ​​train moves quickly, but keeps making stops along the way." This means: Not every country has to have its own ChatGPT. Not every government has to invest billions in investments like Big Tech does in the USA. “Invest cleverly instead of just investing a lot” is the motto.

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Germany could, for example, set priorities in so-called physical AI, i.e. the area where AI is used in machines, factories, robots or autonomous vehicles. Or promote German AI basic research more strongly. It would also be possible to enter into partnerships with other countries outside the USA - such as the collaboration between the Canadian AI company Cohere and the German Aleph Alpha from Heidelberg.

There is enough basis for discussion for the two days of the summit - and also enough work for the coming months, as Digital Minister Wildberger expects: "It is now important to roll up our sleeves and pick up the pace."

Digital Summit in Berlin Marcus Overmann, ARD Berlin, Morning Magazine, Das Erste, November 2nd, 2026 • 6:00 a.m. Digital Summit Federal Government This topic in the program: tagesschau.de | Digital Summit: Has the AI ​​train left Germany? | 11/01/2026 | 7:24 p.m