Entrepreneurship Summit 2023: Keynote speech by Prof. Mike Richter

Summary

In his keynote speech ‘Artificial Intelligence – Why Each of Us Can Be a Designer,’ Prof. Mike Richter discusses the connection between design, entrepreneurship and artificial intelligence (AI) and shows how these areas can be used to accelerate creative processes and realise innovations. Richter begins with a reflection on technological acceleration (‘acceleration of change’) and compares today's AI revolution with previous technological leaps such as the introduction of the mobile phone or the internet. He argues that founders cannot ignore the speed of change, but must actively seize the opportunities it presents.

Richter emphasises that every person is a designer, as we all possess skills such as imagination, creativity, emotional intelligence and the ability to take action to solve problems. For him, design means transforming existing situations into better ones. AI tools can support this process by visualising, simulating and iteratively developing creative ideas, but they cannot replace the entrepreneurial will to implement them. He illustrates this with examples such as packaging design, image-to-code tools and generative AI for 3D models and music.

In conclusion, Richter makes it clear that the combination of entrepreneurial action, design thinking and AI offers a ‘playground’ for innovation, but the key to success is the active implementation of ideas.

Key insights for founders

1. Everyone is a designer:
Founders can use their imagination, experience and intuition to identify problems and develop creative solutions. Design is not only aesthetic, but also functional, emotional and experience-based.

2. Technological change requires rapid adoption:
Innovations such as the iPhone or generative AI are spreading extremely quickly. Founders must be prepared to understand and use new technologies immediately.

3. AI as a tool, not a solution:
Artificial intelligence supports creative processes (e.g. design, visualisation, prototyping), but does not replace entrepreneurial action. Ideas must be actively implemented.

4. Iterative work and experimentation:
Inspiration comes from observation, experimentation and iterative improvement. AI hallucinations or unexpected results should be used as impulses to discover new paths.

5. Visualise and realise experiences:
Success comes when founders turn their ideas into tangible prototypes or products. A combination of head, hand and gut – i.e. thinking, doing and intuition – is crucial.

About the speaker

Prof. Mike Richter is an expert in design, innovation and entrepreneurial thinking. As a founder and entrepreneur, he has many years of experience in the mobile communications and tech industry, including early start-ups for the introduction of mobile technologies. Today, he teaches at leading universities how design thinking, creativity and technological tools such as artificial intelligence can be combined to develop innovative business models. Richter combines practical examples from entrepreneurship, design processes and AI-supported product development to inspire founders to actively implement their ideas and seize opportunities in a rapidly changing world.