Back to the Future of AI – Ep. 27: Dr. Christian Essling (E.ON)

Back to the Future of AI | Ep. 27 | Dr. Christian Essling

Alex and Christian discuss the pivotal role of data and AI in the energy sector, along with the opportunities and challenges of digital transformation. Christian explains how AI and data analytics help optimize power grids, predict customer behavior more accurately, and streamline business processes. The conversation becomes especially compelling when they dive into the energy transition: While energy consumption and production used to follow stable patterns, renewables and increasing electrification have introduced much greater unpredictability. AI plays a crucial role in tackling these challenges by solving highly complex optimization problems that traditional computing systems struggle to handle.

Europe’s position in the global AI race is another key topic. Christian critiques the region’s strict regulations and bureaucratic obstacles, which often slow innovation, while countries like the US and China push ahead at a much faster pace. Still, he sees immense potential for Europe—if it can better align technology, regulation, and business models.

A particularly hot topic in the discussion is the hype around Agentic AI. Christian remains cautious about inflated expectations, emphasizing that AI’s real value comes from targeted, practical applications that deliver measurable impact. Without this focus, there’s a risk of another AI winter, where high investments without tangible success lead to renewed skepticism about the technology.

To wrap up, Christian offers a clear message to businesses and leaders: AI should be implemented strategically, in ways that generate real value—whether by enhancing user experiences, improving efficiency, or enabling new business models.

Listen in when it’s ‘Back to the Future of AI’ again!

Spoken language: German