Events. Schloss Neubeuern.
October Economic Forum
14.10.2025
Ralf Kleber encourages young people to develop creative AI
On 14 October 2025, Schloss Neubeuern opened the third season of the Economic Forum with a controversial business talk: Ralf Kleber, former Country Manager of Amazon Germany, answered the questions of Ulrich Reitz, chief commentator and head of the business editorial department at N-TV and RTL, in a clearly proactive stance on artificial intelligence.
The business event traditionally began with a press conference, which also gave the students the opportunity to engage in a close dialogue with the respective top experts. The school’s own Tick Tock Guild was well prepared for the topic of AI and the experienced AMAZON manager, who shaped AMAZON’s rise to become the most successful group company outside the USA for two decades and under whose leadership innovations such as Prime, Alexa and Kindle were introduced. With the support of chief commentator and political analyst Ulrich Reitz, they asked Ralf Kleber with great interest the questions that are crucial for today’s youth – with a view to their own successful careers.
Addis Amadou (grade 11) moderated the event
"Artificial intelligence & technology are changing the world: danger or opportunity?"
The following programme in the event hall also took place under this heading. To kick things off, tenth-grade students staged a short play in three acts, summarising the rapid development of communication options. From their point of view, the use of AI offers great convenience – but they vividly demonstrated that the supposed time savings can also turn out to be a fallacy – and that “digital togetherness” can just as deceptively lead to social isolation.
Do “more” not “less” – if you can!
Following this controversial discussion, Ralf Kleber presented his view of AI with much more confidence. He particularly addressed the fears associated with the rapid development of technological progress and encouraged those present to be open to change – which means not being afraid of possibly failing, because it is precisely from failure that knowledge and progress would ultimately emerge. Ralf Kleber’s recommendation for dealing with AI was to use it yourself, because it is important to discover the limitations of AI and not to be disappointed at this point, but to help improve AI through further development.
Are we forgetting how to live?
Of course, there was also some worrying criticism in the room, which was expressed in the talk between Ralf Kleber and Ulrich Reitz. And so the lecture evening ended with the conclusion of both experts similar to the message that the students emphasised in their play: AI is useful and can achieve a lot – but it cannot replace humanity and social interaction.
Against the "AI monster in your head"
We will remember the first event of the 2025/26 Economic Forum as an inspiring combination of economic experience, media expertise and future prospects, in conjunction with two very likeable and approachable speakers who were able to allay the fears of the guests and students of an ever faster changing “AI world” to a large extent.
After a very cheerful get-together, which also gave the sponsors and guests of the business forum the opportunity to exchange ideas with the speakers, this special evening came to a successful conclusion. With a small giveaway, a “heaven & hell” origami that the students had made themselves, the guests were able to reflect a little on the topic of the evening on their way home.
Under the sign of artificial intelligence.
The Schloss Neubeuern Business Forum kicked off its third round of events with a good 200 participants. A press conference with the Tick Tock Guild, a play by class 10, two top experts – Ralf Kleber and Ulrich Reitz – and Addis Amadou, who hosted the evening, and of course the many sponsors and guests once again made this evening a special experience.
