"THE USE OF AI" AS THE THEME OF THE 20TH COEUR WORKSHOP
The 2024 COEUR initiative workshop focused on the theme "Man vs. Machine," exploring the opportunities, risks, and ethical implications of artificial intelligence (AI). The objective was to analyze AI's role in business, its potential to enhance decision-making and efficiency, and the challenges related to ethical concerns, biases, and dependency. With participants from diverse disciplines and cultural backgrounds, the workshop encouraged a multidisciplinary approach to understanding AI’s impact on entrepreneurship and innovation.
THE WORKSHOP EXPERIENCE
The workshop was designed to foster creativity, collaboration, and cultural exchange. At the beginning of the week, students introduced themselves and participated in a cultural exchange, presenting their home countries – Germany, Finland, Poland, Scotland, and Switzerland.
As the week progressed, students formed international teams and worked on developing AI-driven business ideas, supported by professors from the participating universities. They engaged in discussions led by industry professionals and academic experts, gaining valuable insights into AI’s role in business and its broader societal impact. Through a design thinking approach, they explored user-focused solutions, analyzed real-world case studies, and participated in interactive sessions that highlighted AI’s benefits and potential risks.
Throughout the workshop, teams refined their business concepts through structured project development, culminating in final presentations. Keynote speeches from experts provided inspiration, while two idea check-ups allowed project groups to present their ideas and receive immediate feedback, helping them to further develop their concepts. This structured approach ensured that participants not only gained theoretical knowledge but also applied creative problem-solving to real-world business challenges.
THE RESULT: SIX CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURIAL IDEAS
By the end of the week, the students demonstrated that dedication and effort lead to success through their innovative business ideas:
- Clean Stream: An ocean cleaning organization that uses AI driven drones and sensors to detect and collect garbage out of the water.
- DocuMateX: Reducing bureaucracy through an AI-based document management system.
- Food Guard: An AI-driven smart fridge assistant that tracks expiration dates, monitors stored items, and suggests recipes to reduce food waste. By optimizing grocery use and simplifying meal planning, it promotes sustainability and saves money.
- ZenVRse: An AI-powered VR headset that creates personalized relaxation spaces for students, teachers, and professors to reduce stress, improve focus, and enhance well-being.
- Wayst Warriors: A pilot project in Copenhagen utilizing AI-driven robots to remove cigarette butts and small plastic waste, reducing pollution and optimizing recycling processes. The initiative ensures sustainable scalability through a funding model combining public grants, corporate partnerships, and crowdfunding.
- Travel Buddy: An AI-powered travel assistant that plans trips, provides on-site support, and simplifies public transport use – a specialized ChatGPT for seamless travel without unnecessary extras.
These six outstanding entrepreneurial concepts developed during the program, each tackling a real-world problem with innovative AI-driven solutions.
More than just a workshop on AI in business, the COEUR 2024 experience was about people – about the connections formed, the diverse perspectives shared, and the collective growth of everyone involved. Over the course of the week, students from different cultural and academic backgrounds came together, pushing their creative boundaries and challenging their assumptions about technology and its role in the world. The collaborative spirit fostered a strong sense of camaraderie, proving that innovation thrives in an environment of open dialogue and shared learning, as participants left with new insights, friendships, and skills.
(Susanne Osterholzer, Marsha Hogewind)
