10/08/2025

Lecture series on the impact of artificial intelligence on the world of work

Digitalization and the increasing use of artificial intelligence in everyday business processes are transforming the world of work in profound ways. To highlight the challenges this presents for business management, employees and their representatives—and to develop possible solutions—the World of Work Partnership Office at Saarland University, together with its partners, will be hosting a series of four public lectures during the winter semester.

The following text has been machine translated from the German with no human editing.

The series begins on 15 October at 6 p.m. with an introduction by Professor Peter Loos from the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI): ‘What is artificial intelligence and how does it relate to the world of work?’ (Saarland University, DFKI Building D3 2, Room -2.17).

Digitalisation is fundamentally changing the world of work – job content is changing, and information is being analysed, processed and transmitted more quickly. This is having an impact on activities and job profiles. This change is being reinforced by the increasing use of artificial intelligence in everyday working life. Employees must be trained in these new applications and tools and recognise their impact. This also presents new challenges for works councils, staff councils and trade unions. 

The series of events in the 2025/26 winter semester will highlight these challenges and develop joint solutions. It is aimed at the interested public. Three of the events will take place at the university and one at the Chamber of Labour's education centre in Kirkel. Cooperation partners are the Saarland Chamber of Labour, DGB, German Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence, IG Metall, Verdi, IG BCE, GEW and Verdi.

All dates in the series (starting at 6 p.m. each day):
15 October: ‘Introduction: What is artificial intelligence and how does it relate to the world of work?’
Prof. Peter Loos, German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence, Saarbrücken. Location: Saarland University, DFKI Building D3 2, Room -2.17 (Stuhlsatzenhausweg 3, 66123 Saarbrücken).

5 November: ‘Revolution or risk? First winners and losers of AI – effects on wages and employment in various sectors of the economy’ 
Marc Justin Schmidt, TU Dortmund. 
Location: Education Centre of the Chamber of Labour in Kirkel (Am Tannenwald 1, 66459 Kirkel)

12 November: ‘AI in the world of work: How can we shape this transformation in a sustainable way?’ 
Prof. Tobias Kämpf, University of Labour, Frankfurt.
Location: Saarland University, Building E2 1, Seminar Room 001.

19 November: Discussion panel: Trade union challenges posed by artificial intelligence.
Prof. Christoph Sorge (Legal Informatics Saarbrücken), Detlef Gerst (IG Metall Executive Board), Holger Meuler (Verdi). 
Location: Saarland University, Building E2 1, Seminar Room 001.

Please register at:kooperationsstelle(at)uni-saarland.de
If you have any questions, please contact Ms Nentwig, tel. 0681 302-4802.