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Implementation of the AI Act—What Impact Will the New Regulation Have?

Cover Digitalgespräch Episode 72
Cover Digitalgespräch Episode 72

The EU’s AI Regulation, or “AI Act,” will gradually come into effect starting in early 2025 and already regulates the development and use of AI systems intended for use in Europe. With this comprehensive set of regulations, lawmakers are facing a major challenge. The impact of AI technologies—which are driving massive transformations across national borders—is to be managed through democratic processes to the extent that major risks can be identified and avoided. This approach takes into account that AI is a constantly evolving field and cannot be viewed or assessed in isolation from its context of application. In practice, this also means that both developers and users of AI systems must adapt to new obligations and learn not only to use AI systems appropriately but also to assess their risks in specific individual cases. The AI Act also explicitly calls for the development of specific AI literacy among users. It is clear that new regulations always entail new burdens that companies, government agencies, and civil society must now shoulder. The academic community can also contribute to ensuring that this effort succeeds on a broad scale.

Domenik Wendt is a professor of civil law, European business law, and European law at Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences and a recognized expert on AI law and the AI Act in particular. In the Digitalgespräch, he explains what the key elements of the AI Act are and which ones are already in effect today. He describes how companies and government agencies are preparing to implement the EU’s requirements and what support is available to help them understand and comply with the AI Act in their own contexts. Together with hosts Marlene Görger and Petra Gehring, Wendt discusses how regulation and capacity-building are intertwined, how it is possible that while the AI Act completely bans certain applications and strictly regulates others, it nevertheless allows more room for innovation and development than some might fear—and whether the AI Act is capable of reducing risks and preventing harm, even in light of the profound societal impacts of AI systems.

Episode 72: Digitalgespräch with Domenik Wendt of the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, 18th of November 2025
Transkript zur Folge

Further Information:

To Digitalgespräch Episode 48 “The EU’s AI Act: How it came about and how it regulates AI” with Domenik Wendt : https://zevedi.de/digitalgespraech-048-domenik-wendt-2/

To the AI-Service Desk of the Bundesnetzagentur: https://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/DE/Fachthemen/Digitales/KI/start_ki.html

To the Hint-Paper „KI-Kompetenzen nach Artikel 4 KI-Verordnung“ of the Bundesnetzagentur: https://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/DE/Fachthemen/Digitales/KI/_functions/Hinweispapier.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=2

To the Paper „KI-Kompetenzanforderungen nach Art. 4 AI Act. – Juristische Analyse und praxisorientierte Maßnahmen“ with Involvement of the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences: https://zenodo.org/records/17407983

all episodes of Digitalgespräch

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The podcast is in German. At the moment there is no English version or transcript available.

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What are AI real-world labs, and what do they do?

Cover Digitalgespräch Episode 71
Cover Digitalgespräch Episode 71

With the AI Act, European lawmakers are attempting a difficult balancing act: On the one hand, effective regulation is needed for high-risk, emerging technologies that are already having significant societal impacts today. On the other hand, Europe should participate in the opportunities presented by these very technological developments—in other words, it should not simply slow them down, but rather shape them. AI real-world labs, or “AI sandboxes,” are intended to be one tool for this regulatory promotion of innovation: They are designed as special testing environments for AI products nearing market readiness, as a regulatory point of contact and source of support for companies and startups—and also as learning environments for the supervisory authorities, which must adapt their administrative processes to the nebulous concept of “AI.” The goal is to learn, both within and through the real-world lab, how to design AI applications in a way that meets the safety requirements of the AI Act, as well as how to intelligently incorporate the relevant testing criteria into administrative processes. This is no easy task for the EU member states, which do not have much time left to implement their first “AI sandboxes”: By August 2, 2026, these new types of regulatory bodies must at least formally exist and be operational.

Johannes Buchheim is a professor of public law and the law of digitalization at Philipps University of Marburg. In this Digitalgespräch, the expert on administrative law and legal frameworks in the digital society explains the role that AI real-world labs play in implementing the AI Act and what measures the EU is requiring its member states to take in this regard. He describes what forms of AI real-world labs might be conceivable for various specific technologies, who is involved in developing these public institutions, and what policymakers hope to achieve through them. Together with hosts Marlene Görger and Petra Gehring, Buchheim discusses what ideas, expectations, and fears might be at play among the stakeholders involved; how the framework conditions for AI real-world labs align with the competitive requirements of commercial enterprises; whether—and if so, under what conditions—participation in real-world labs is attractive to AI developers —and how transparency and disclosure requirements must be used to foster a critical public discourse in order to democratically legitimize this form of government-funded testing of potentially high-risk technologies.

Episode 71: Digitalgespräch with Johannes Buchheim of the Philipps-University Marburg, 28th of October 2025
Transkript zur Folge

Further Information:

To Informations about AI Real-World Labs on the Website of the Bundesnetzagentur: https://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/DE/Fachthemen/Digitales/KI/5_Innovationen/start.html

all episodes of Digitalgespräch

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The podcast is in German. At the moment there is no English version or transcript available.

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Digitalized Bicycles: What Are the Latest Developments?

Cover Digitalgespräch Episode 70 feat. Rainer de Mey
Cover Digitalgespräch Episode 70 feat. Rainer de Mey

E-bikes are a key element of the transportation transition and, especially for many commuters, a real alternative to cars. Of course, e-bikes are significantly more expensive to purchase than a traditional bicycle. So it’s no wonder that the first digital application for e-bikes was designed to prevent theft. But with motion and sensor data, there’s much more that can be done with bicycles—even those without motors. In principle, all kinds of parameters can be measured—both those of the vehicle and those of the rider—and in an increasingly digital environment, the bike can also be viewed as a connected device within the Internet of Things. Automation in road traffic is a key concept here. Furthermore, beyond their utility for individual comfort—assuming sufficient personal enthusiasm for digital tools and gadgets—meaningful data from bicycle traffic is also of great value for transportation planning on the one hand, and the development of innovative business models on the other.

Rainer de Mey is Chief Digital Officer at e-bike manufacturer Riese & Müller, a company with expertise in digitalization for cycling. In this digital discussion, the expert describes which digital applications are available for bicycles today, how the needs of very diverse groups of cyclists are evolving, what data is collected for digital cycling, and how and by whom it can be used. De Mey explains the limitations small and medium-sized enterprises face in terms of digital development, and what needs might be expected in the future. Together with hosts Marlene Görger and Petra Gehring, de Mey also discusses where digitalization makes sense for bicycles and where it’s more of a gimmick, what will be needed to use bicycle data for urban planning and traffic safety—and whether the completely non-digital bicycle will soon be left behind.

Episode 70: Digitalgespräch with Rainer de Mey of Riese & Müller, 7th of October 2025
Transkript zur Folge

Further Information:

To the website of the LOEWE Focus DyNaMo of Kassel University: https://www.uni-kassel.de/forschung/dynamo.html

To the website of the Data-portal „Radverkehr in Deutschland“, through which a spin-off of the Technical University of Dresden provides traffic data from the STADTRADELN campaigns: https://www.radverkehr-in-deutschland.de

all episodes of Digitalgespräch

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The podcast is in German. At the moment there is no English version or transcript available.

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What is known about “Internet addiction”?

Das Coverbild des Digitalgespräch-Podcasts. Folge 66 mit Anja Bischof
Das Coverbild des Digitalgespräch-Podcasts. Folge 66 mit Anja Bischof

It’s not unusual to be online all day. Many aspects of our daily lives—from communication, shopping, and signing contracts to entertainment and gathering information—naturally take place on the internet, often even on a single device: the smartphone, which seems to combine an endless array of applications and possibilities. We’ve grown accustomed to the constant availability of digital services, and if they’re unexpectedly unavailable, it can be frustrating and trigger stress, discomfort, or nervousness—and in the case of so-called “Internet use disorders,” even genuine withdrawal symptoms in some people. There are apparently elements of the digital world that can be addictive, much like we know it to be with substances. But not every teenager who spends hours scrolling through social media, and not every adult who regularly spends the entire weekend playing online games, has a problem severe enough to be classified as a disorder—even if some studies or newspaper reports seem to conflate excessive internet use with addictive behavior. There is a normal level of constant internet use that, at least from an addiction perspective, isn’t problematic: The significant amount of time we sometimes spend online for work, school, college, or vocational training isn’t even taken into account when answering the question of whether we are “internet-addicted”. So what do experts look for when assessing an internet use disorder? What are the warning signs that an addiction might be developing? And how can online addictions be treated, given that abstinence “from the internet” is no longer an option in our digital society?

Dr. Anja Bischof is a health scientist and works at the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the University of Lübeck in the “Addiction” research group, where her work focuses, among other things, on behavioral addictions. As a member of the executive board of the German Society for Addiction Research and Therapy (DG-Sucht), she was involved in developing guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of internet use disorders. In this Digitalgespräch, the expert explains when an addiction is present, how to identify it, and why it is important to develop clear criteria for this. She describes how addictive behavior arises in the digital realm, what risk factors exist, and what precautions can be taken to protect oneself or one’s loved ones. Together with hosts Marlene Görger and Petra Gehring, Bischof discusses where responsibilities lie—particularly regarding the protection of children and adolescents—whether we run the risk, in the case of internet use disorders, of pathologizing new norms or normalizing harmful behavior—and what research can do to help avoid both.

Episode 66: Digitalgespräch with Anja Bischof from the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Lübeck, 24th of June 2025
Transkript zur Folge

Further Information:

Link to the S1 Guideline “Diagnostik und Therapie von Internetnutzungsstörungen”: https://register.awmf.org/de/leitlinien/detail/076-011

Link to the website „Erste Hilfe Internetsucht“: https://www.erstehilfe-internetsucht.de/

Link to the website „Diagnostik von Internetnutzungsstörungen. Tools und Tipps zu Screening, Diagnostik & Intervention“: http://dia-net.com/

all episodes of Digitalgespräch

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The podcast is in German. At the moment there is no English version or transcript available.

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Knowledge, Responsibility, Efficiency: The Medical Profession Under the Influence of “Artificial Intelligence”

Das Coverbild des Digitalgespräch-Podcasts. Folge 65 mit Oswald Hasselmann
Das Coverbild des Digitalgespräch-Podcasts. Folge 65 mit Oswald Hasselmann

What we generally refer to as “artificial intelligence” in everyday life has many modes of operation and fields of application. A wide variety of AI systems have also been used routinely in medicine for a long time. They support medical professionals in taking medical histories and making diagnoses, or in the operating room, by supplementing the individual expertise and experience of human experts with statistical analyses and—based on these—recommendations for action. Doctors can use these various sources of information to address the specific needs of their patients individually and provide them with the best possible care. Today, however, it is not only AI products developed specifically for everyday medical practice that play a role; AI systems are also available to patients—mostly in the form of chatbots that simulate human communication and thus reinforce the impression that one is dealing with a system that is “intelligent” in the human sense and can also be consulted regarding medical issues. The hype surrounding these systems has created high expectations regarding medical care: Can “AI”—which is beginning to replace staff in so many other areas and promises increased efficiency—also be a solution to the shortage of medical professionals?

Dr. Oswald Hasselmann is a specialist in pediatrics and adolescent medicine with a focus on neurology; he is a member of the management team at the Eastern Switzerland Children’s Hospital and president of the Swiss Society for Biomedical Ethics. In this Digitalgespräch, the expert on ethical values in the medical professions explains where popular systems like ChatGPT appear in everyday medical practice, how medical AI products are used, what new forms of knowledge are emerging as a result, and how realistic the expectations are that the medical community, policymakers, and patients have for these technologies. Together with hosts Petra Gehring and Marlene Görger, Hasselmann discusses the implications of the normalization of AI use for the competence and responsibility of medical professionals, which new aspects should therefore be incorporated into medical education and continuing education—and whether we must give up the privacy of our health data to support the use of commercial AI products in medical care.

Episode 65 of Digitalgespräch with Oswald Hasselmann of the Swiss Society for Biomedical Ethics,
3rd of June 2025
Transkript zur Folge

Further Information:


To the webseite of the Swiss Society for Biomedical Ethics: https://www.bioethics.ch/sgbe/

all episodes of Digitalgespräch

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The podcast is in German. At the moment there is no English version or transcript available.

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Lessons and Insights from the Cyberattack on the University of Giessen

Cover Digitalgespräch Folge 69 feat. Matthias Stenke
Cover Digitalgespräch Folge 69 feat. Matthias Stenke

Cyberattacks are now commonplace, and defending against them—as well as constantly adapting IT systems to address new security vulnerabilities—has become part of daily life in IT departments both large and small. Among the largest of these are university computer centers, which must manage a widely distributed network comprising numerous departments and locations. The fact that historically evolved university structures sometimes involve very different requirements and conditions does not exactly make the task of providing reliable, secure, and user-friendly services to thousands of staff members and tens of thousands of students at all times any easier. Justus Liebig University Giessen learned the hard way just how severely cyberattacks can impact university operations when, in December 2019, it became the first German university to fall victim to a ransomware attack. Since then, awareness of the importance of IT security in public institutions has grown, and universities are devoting increasing attention and resources to this issue. What exactly happened back then? What impact did the attack have on the university, and what lessons were learned from it?

Matthias Stenke serves as deputy director and head of operations for IT security at Justus Liebig University Giessen, and also heads the university’s Enterprise Architecture Management unit. In this Digitalgespräch, the IT security expert provides a first-hand account of how the hacking attack on JLU Giessen unfolded in December 2019, what strategy the attackers pursued, how those in charge and supporters responded, and how the university managed to emerge stronger from this crisis despite the enormous extent of the damage. Together with hosts Marlene Görger and Petra Gehring, Stenke discusses the role that solidarity and effective communication played in this process, and why IT security at universities is not just a matter for experts—but, in light of increasing threats, requires all members to do their part.

Episode 69: Digitalgespräch feat. Matthias Stenke from the Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, 16. September 2025
Transkript zur Folge

Further Information:

To the mentioned article „#JLUoffline. Der Cyber-Angriff auf die Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen im Dezember 2019“ in the ABI Technik: https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/abitech-2022-0005/html?lang=de

all episodes of Digitalgespräch

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The podcast is in German. At the moment there is no English version or transcript available.

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Digital Tools and Archeology

Cover Digitalgespräch Episode 68
Cover Digitalgespräch Episode 68

Digitality is a multifaceted phenomenon in archaeology. Digital tools and analytical methods open up new possibilities for discovering, examining, and documenting cultural heritage. The data collected in this process enables research questions that would have been virtually unthinkable using analog methods and without big data and AI—but the sheer volume of options available to researchers also calls for reflection: in some cases, restrictions are necessary to make well-reasoned decisions not to collect certain data. And standards must be established within the community. The effects of digital archaeology are also visible to the outside world: digital twins of ancient artifacts and sites are being created, vividly conveying what scientists are discovering about past cultures. And where the loss of original cultural artifacts is imminent—for example, due to large-scale construction projects, environmental disasters, wars, or terrorism—the methods of digital archaeology can at least preserve knowledge of these artifacts through digital documentation. Last but not least, archaeological research is also challenged by media discontinuities in the digital age: Early digital storage media, on which large quantities of archaeological findings are documented—and which were anything but suitable for long-term archiving—must be cataloged, and the information archived on them must be integrated into newly emerging data systems and archives. A complex task that the field is only slowly beginning to address.

Friederike Fless is a professor of classical archaeology at Freie Universität Berlin and served for many years as the spokesperson for the TOPOI Cluster of Excellence on the Ancient World. Since 2011, she has been president of the German Archaeological Institute (DAI). In this Digitalgespräch, the expert explains the purposes for which archaeology uses digital tools, how they are developed, and how workflows are changing as a result. Fless describes how modern excavations are organized, explains the process behind cultural heritage rescue missions—such as those in Syria—and provides insight into international collaboration. Together with hosts Marlene Görger and Petra Gehring, Fless discusses why dealing with the possibilities and limitations of digital data collection on a daily basis requires bold pragmatism in light of the transience of cultural heritage; which new trends are becoming important for the digital presentation and communication of ancient cultures; how academia should address the problem of “alternative facts” circulating online regarding archaeological topics —and what questions regarding data sovereignty and ownership arise in the context of digital cultural heritage documentation on an international scale.

Episode 68: Digitalgespräch feat. Friederike Fless of the Freie Universität Berlin and the Deutschen Archäologischen Institut (DAI), 5. August 2025
Transkript zur Folge

Further Information:

To the webseite of the „KulturGutRetter“ project: https://www.kulturgutretter.org/
To the webseite of the Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts: https://www.dainst.org/

all episodes of Digitalgespräch

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The podcast is in German. At the moment there is no English version or transcript available.

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The THW’s Virtual Operations Support Team: Internet Operations in Civil Protection and Disaster Relief

Das Coverbild des Digitalgespräch-Podcasts. Folge 63 mit Ralf Daniel
Das Coverbild des Digitalgespräch-Podcasts. Folge 63 mit Ralf Daniel

People who are accustomed to communicating via social media continue to do so even in exceptional situations—posts, photos, and videos of floods, explosions, and other disasters not only inform friends, family, or followers, but in some cases also emergency responders who must deal with these dangerous situations. Resourceful, tech-savvy volunteers recognized this early on. As a result, there are now Virtual Operations Support Teams (VOSTs) around the world that work independently, quickly, and competently to sift through the flood of information and misinformation on the internet for relevant clues. They distinguish credible content from misleading content, skillfully combine various data sources, and thus significantly help those in charge on the ground to make the right decisions. The Technisches Hilfswerk (THW)—Germany’s volunteer-based organization for civil protection and disaster relief—also has such a VOST.


Ralf Daniel, a police officer and lecturer in criminology, heads the THW’s VOST. In this Digitalgespräch, he explains the range of expertise within his team and how exactly it collaborates with emergency responders on the ground. He describes typical operations and the questions that guide social media monitoring, how information is processed and shared, and where the VOST’s limits of jurisdiction and capabilities lie. Together with hosts Marlene Görger and Petra Gehring, Daniel discusses what constitutes an effective approach to false reports and deliberate misinformation—especially in complex situations—how important local networks are, particularly in emergencies, and what role communication via social media and networks plays—or should play—in civil protection and disaster management today.

Episode 63: Digitalgespräch feat. Ralf Daniel from the THW’s Virtual Operations Support Team (VOST), 1. April 2025
Transkript zur Folge

Further Information:

To the Virtual Operations Support Teams of the THW’s webseite: https://www.thw.de/SharedDocs/Einheiten/DE/006_vost.htm

all episodes of Digitalgespräch

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The podcast is in German. At the moment there is no English version or transcript available.

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Schutz mittels Digital Services Act: Die Durchsetzung von Kinderrechten in digitalen Diensten

Digitalgespräch Episode 62 feat. Michael Terhörst
Digitalgespräch Episode 62 feat. Michael Terhörst


With the adoption of the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA) in 2022, the European Commission embarked on a paradigm shift. It created a comprehensive framework that establishes rights for users of digital intermediary services—such as social media platforms or marketplaces for private listings—vis-à-vis the providers of these services. The protection of children and adolescents is a particular focus here, because although their daily lives and social interactions are heavily influenced by social media, these environments are anything but child-friendly. Content harmful to minors, to which even young children can be suddenly and unexpectedly exposed, is dangerous. There are also offenders who establish contact with minors online. And last but not least, the use of digital media in and of itself carries risks, such as disruptions to mental and motor development, overt addictions, or harm caused by health-threatening trends that spread via social media. Banning children and adolescents from using digital media is not a solution. This would exclude them from the digital public sphere—and complete inexperience would not provide sustainable protection either. Adolescents therefore have not only the right to protection of their privacy and health, but also to age-appropriate participation and the ability to engage with digital media in a self-determined manner.

Michael Terhörst, a fully qualified lawyer, heads the new, independent agency for the enforcement of children’s rights in digital services (KidD). In this Digitalgespräch, the expert on child and youth media protection describes the dangers adolescents face when using online platforms, who is responsible for protecting them from these dangers, and how these agencies go about doing so. He explains how the Digital Services Act (DSA) in particular can strengthen the rights of children and adolescents, why it is important not only to pursue criminal prosecution in individual cases but also to develop binding standards and integrated protection mechanisms, and outlines specific ways to make digital services safer and more youth-friendly. Together with hosts Marlene Görger and Petra Gehring, Terhörst discusses whether online services as a whole need to become more child-friendly, what common perspective EU member states have on the issue—and what concrete steps are now necessary to ensure that young people’s rights to protection, empowerment, and participation are safeguarded in the digital world as well.

Folge 62: Digitalgespräch with Michael Terhörst of the Stelle zur Durchsetzung von Kinderrechten in digitalen Diensten (KidD), 11. March 2025
Transkript zur Folge

Furhter Information:

Link to Webseite of KidD: https://www.kidd.bund.de/

Link to the Working Group 6 of European Board for Digital Services: https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/working-group-6-european-board-digital-services-protection-minor

Link to the Gefährdungsatlas of Bundeszentrale für Kinder- und Jugendmedienschutz: https://www.bzkj.de/bzkj/service/publikationen/gefaehrdungsatlas-digitales-aufwachsen-vom-kind-aus-denken-zukunftssicher-handeln-aktualisierte-und-erweiterte-2-auflage–197812

all episodes of Digitalgespräch

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The podcast is in German. At the moment there is no English version or transcript available.

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AI and the Value of Human Authorship: The Fight for Copyright

Das Coverbild des Digitalgespräch-Podcasts. Folge 52 mit Nina George
Das Coverbild des Digitalgespräch-Podcasts. Folge 52 mit Nina George

The training data for generative AI systems contains millions upon millions of copyrighted works. The rights holders of this material were neither asked if they consented to this form of use nor were they compensated for it. Many celebrate the fact that texts, images, and musical works are publicly available on the internet as an achievement for free education and participation in humanity’s cultural wealth. Of course, no one thought about the for-profit companies that develop large language models on this basis. Now, AI systems that produce their results based on content collected for free threaten to replace the very creators whose creative works they use. Publishers and collecting societies are under pressure. They are trying to develop rules for integrating AI into professional workflows and to protect the rights of the creators they represent—especially against non-European corporations that dominate technological development. In this complex situation, what rights can authors whose works already appear in the training data of GPT and similar systems still claim? What is the cost of AI if copyright law does not apply in this area? How can human creative work be protected in the future from exploitation by IT corporations?

Nina George is a writer, translator, and host. For many years, she has been actively advocating for the rights of artists and cultural practitioners in political processes, for example as president of the European Writers’ Council. In this podcast, the expert outlines the challenges that creatives and writers face due to the development of generative AI and identifies the key players involved. She describes the interests that various stakeholders are pursuing in current negotiations, articulates criticisms and demands directed at policymakers and AI developers, and highlights possible future scenarios. Together with hosts Marlene Görger and Petra Gehring, George discusses whether a sensible approach to generative AI is conceivable in the creative industries, and what real-life circumstances are affected by the debate over the value of human authorship and cultural contributions.

Folge 52: Digitalgespräch with Nina George of European Writers‘ Council, 28th of May 2024
Transkript zur Folge

Further Information:

The Webseite of the European Writers‘ Council: https://europeanwriterscouncil.eu/

The Webseite of the Author’s Rights Network: https://www.netzwerk-autorenrechte.de/

all episodes of Digitalgespräch

Creative Commons Lizenzvertrag

The podcast is in German. At the moment there is no English version or transcript available.