Germany’s Minister for Economic Affairs, Katherina Reiche, is establishing an expert advisory board to guide policy decisions on artificial intelligence and competition. According to information obtained by the Handelsblatt newspaper, the commission will be chaired by a high-profile group including Rolf Schumann, Digital Chief of the Schwarz Group and Co-Head of Schwarz Digits, Sebastian Thrun, founder of Google X Labs and Rupprecht Podszun, a Düsseldorf-based competition lawyer and member of the Monopol Commission.
The advisory board is expected to include a diverse range of experts from the business and scientific communities, featuring names such as Cedrik Neike, a member of the Siemens executive board, Verena Pausder, head of the German Startup Association and Björn Ommer, a professor of computer science from the University of Munich.
Government sources confirmed to the Handelsblatt that the 14-member panel is scheduled to begin work in the autumn. The creation of this advisory body had been stipulated in the coalition agreement between the Union and SPD parties.
Rolf Schumann declined to comment directly when contacted by the Handelsblatt, referring inquiries to the ministry. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Economic Affairs refrained from confirming the appointments, stating that the ministry would provide information when appropriate. This represents the third advisory board established by Minister Reiche, who has previously convened groups focused on economics and the defense industry.
