AI: From a Scary Specter to a Driver of Progress

Artificial intelligence dominates the news – and often in a negative way. This year’s headlines ranged from rogue agents to fears of the end of humanity. Yet AI also has the potential to make our world a better place, if we use it for that purpose.

This is precisely where the core themes of this year's World Usability Day come into play: ethical responsibility in AI, global interdependence, sustainability through intelligence, and cultural and ethical pluralism.

Together with you, we’ll discuss how we can design AI systems in the future that respect cultural diversity, human rights, and ecological limits while also enabling innovation. How AI can serve as a bridge to address cross-border challenges ranging from climate change to digital inequality. What solutions exist for renewable energy, the circular economy, and sustainable cities that offer transparent and inclusive governance. And how ethics in AI should reflect global diversity rather than relying on a single moral framework.

22nd World Usability Day – The Program

• 4:00 p.m. Doors open and arrival

• 4:30 p.m. Welcome and kick-off (Sandra Griffel)

• 5:00 p.m. Presentation 1

• 5:30 p.m. Presentation 2

• 6:00 p.m. Presentation 3

• 6:30 p.m. Interactive sessions + networking

• 7:00 p.m. Panel: Sustainable, Ethical, Feasible? Design Between Aspiration and Reality

• 8:00 p.m. Drinks + networking

Inspiring speakers with diverse perspectives

From established design experts to up-and-coming young talents: At WUD 2026, people from various fields will share their experiences. In the closing panel discussion, they will come together to discuss future prospects—accompanied by live sketching. In this way, we bring together experts, industry representatives, users, educators, and government officials to exchange ideas on how to create more user-friendly services and simple digital applications.

Note

Photos and video recordings will be taken during the event for documentation purposes. Please let us know at the reception desk if you do not wish to appear in our documentation.

Your Evening at denkwerk

When: November 12, 2026

Start: 4:00 p.m.

Location: denkwerk GmbH, Vogelsanger Str. 66, 50823 Cologne, 1st floor

You'll get

• Practical insights from experts

• Interactive, hands-on workshops

• Networking with designers from various industries

• Insights into new tools and ways of working

• Drinks and a relaxed get-together to wrap things up

Sign up for free now

Register now for free for WUD 2026 at denkwerk in Cologne. Important: Accept the email notifications and click “Confirm Registration” in the email. This is the only way to secure your free ticket. Don’t worry, we won’t flood you with emails: We’ll only send you important updates about the event and check in with you three days beforehand to confirm whether you’re actually coming – or if you’d like to free up your spot for others on the waitlist.

On LinkedIn, you can learn more about WUD 2026 in Cologne and stay up to date.