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19. August 2027
Zürich

Dr. Marisa Tschopp

Head of the “Human & AI” Department, ZHAW / Head of “AI Research,” scip AG

Presentation topic:
“Keynote: Humans, Machines, Feelings? AI Psychology at the Intersection of Emotions, Identity, and Human Behavior “

Dr. Marisa Tschopp heads the “Human & AI” department at the ZHAW’s Institute of Applied Psychology for People, Society, and Technologies, where she researches the psychological and ethical dynamics of human-machine relationships. In addition, the AI psychologist leads the AI Research division at the cybersecurity firm scip AG, thereby bridging theoretical research with technological practice. As a passionate advocate for the NGO Women in AI, she is also actively committed to diversity and the advancement of women in shaping a human-centered technological future.

Livia Walpen

Senior Policy Advisor, Federal Office of Communications (BAKOM)

Presentation topic:
“How will Switzerland regulate AI?”

Livia Walpen serves as a Senior Policy Advisor at the Federal Office of Communications (BAKOM), where she focuses on issues related to the governance of artificial intelligence. She was a member of the Swiss delegation during the negotiations on the Council of Europe’s AI Convention and is currently responsible for its national implementation. She is also a member of the organizing team for the 2027 AI Summit in Geneva, coordinates the “Tripartite Platform for AI,” and is active in the Swiss Internet Governance Forum (Swiss IGF).​

Livia Walpen holds a master’s degree (M.A.) in International Relations and Governance from the University of St. Gallen (HSG) and also studied in Santiago, Chile, and at the Graduate Institute in Geneva.

Kai Zenner

Head of Office and Digital Policy Adviser for Axel Voss (MEP), European Parliament

Presentation topic:
“Update AI Regulation in the EU”

Kai Zenner is Head of Office and Digital Policy Adviser in the parliamentary office of Axel Voss, Member of the European Parliament.​

In this role, Kai Zenner has helped shape and implement the most important data protection and digitalization initiatives of recent years. As a digitalization expert, Kai Zenner focuses on the question of “proper” policymaking. What kind of regulation is needed for digitalization in the context of the tension between “technology, innovation, and legislation”?​​

Dr. Dominika Blonski

Data Protection Authority of the Canton of Zurich

Presentation topic:
“KI & Data”

Dominika Blonski has served as the Data Protection Authority for the Canton of Zurich since May 2020.

She earned her doctorate from the University of Bern. Her award-winning dissertation—which received the Professor Walther Hug Prize—focused on the topic “Biometric Data as the Subject of the Right to Informational Self-Determination.” In addition, she supplemented her legal education with a Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Information Security Management.

As Vice President of privatim and a lecturer on digitalization and data protection at the University of Bern, she brings deep expertise at the intersection of law and technology.

Sascha Maier

Chief Information Security Officer SV Group

Presentation topic:
“Booking.com & AI: The Invisible Attack on the Hospitality Industry”

Sascha Maier is the CISO of the SV Group in Zurich, a leading foodservice and hotel management group with business divisions in institutional foodservice, public foodservice, hotel management, and digital solutions.

Prior to that, he served for more than ten years as Head of IT & Cyber Resilience at IWC Schaffhausen, the renowned luxury watch manufacturer based in Schaffhausen. In this role, he was responsible for the company’s global IT and information security across all locations.

In addition, Sascha Maier serves as a lecturer at the University of St. Gallen (HSG) and the Swiss Cyber Institute, and acts as an advisor to various startups in the areas of cybersecurity and digital resilience.

Samarth Malhotra

CEO / Co-Founder

Presentation topic:
“Humanoids in the Aisle: Robotics in the Real World”

Samarth Malhotra is a co-founder and the CEO of Theseus Robotics, which specializes in Physical AI. He has been working with artificial intelligence and machine learning for over eight years. As a serial entrepreneur, he scaled his last company to a seven-figure ARR and expanded operations across three continents before selling it in early 2026 to co-found his current company. His career path took him through ETH Zurich and Carnegie Mellon University, as well as stints at Facebook and Priceloop.

Ádám Weinhardt-Kovács

CPO / Co-Founder

Presentation topic:
“Humanoids in the Aisle: Robotics in the Real World”

Ádám Weinhardt-Kovács is a co-founder and the CPO of Theseus Robotics and has been developing robotic hardware for five years, which he also deploys in production environments. He began his work in research laboratories in Hungary, continued at ETH Zurich, and later at Flink Robotics. He has single-handedly designed complete robots, pneumatic systems, and suction grippers and rolled them out at companies including Swiss Post and PostNord.

Martin Steiger

Attorney-at-Law and Entrepreneur for Digital Law

Presentation topic:
“Live Podcast – Datenschutzplaudereien”

Martin Steiger is an attorney and entrepreneur specializing in digital law. His work focuses on the intersection of IT, law, and business, including data protection and AI law. Through his law firm, Steiger Legal AG, and his company, Datenschutzpartner AG, he assists individuals, organizations, and businesses in complying with data protection laws in Switzerland and abroad.

He serves as a lecturer at the University of St. Gallen (HSG) and at the Datenschutz-Academy. He is also actively involved with the non-governmental organization Digitale Gesellschaft.

In the podcast “Datenschutz-Plaudereien,” Martin Steiger and Andreas Von Gunten discuss current issues related to data protection, internet policy, and related topics on a weekly basis.

Dr. Angela Müller

Executive Director AlgorithmWatch Schweiz

Presentation topic:
“Live Podcast – Datenschutzplaudereien”

Angela Müller is the Executive Director of AlgorithmWatch CH in Zurich and an Exucitve Board Director at AlgorithmWatch in Berlin.

She is responsible for the organization’s overall strategy, particularly its work in the areas of policy and investigations. Her focus is on the intersection of AI with fundamental rights, society, and democracy—and on the regulation of AI.

She has served as an expert witness in hearings before the Swiss Parliament, the Council of Europe, and the German Bundestag; is a member of expert groups within the Swiss Federal Administration; and was honored in 2024 as one of the “100 Women in AI Ethics” worldwide. She is also a member of the Federal Media Commission (EMEK) and a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Zurich.

Angela Müller studied political philosophy and ethics (M.A.) and earned her doctorate in law (Dr. iur.) from the University of Zurich.

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