Hands-On AI at KI-to-go in Cologne
Agent-based AI doesn’t need a lecture hall—it needs real-world experience. This was precisely the motto behind the IHK AI Day “AI to go,” which the Cologne Chamber of Industry and Commerce hosted on March 18, 2026, at smartvillage Cologne. Dirk Neuß was there on behalf of aiXbrain and brought back insights into what was discussed, demonstrated, and debated at the event.
A day by companies for companies
The concept is as simple as it is effective: companies from North Rhine-Westphalia, particularly from the Cologne area and the Rhineland mining region, share how they’ve solved specific everyday problems using AI. Office organization, customer communication, workforce planning, onboarding—the use cases were wide-ranging and clearly grounded in reality.
The program included practical examples of automated document analysis, AI-powered chatbots for customer contact, and interactive knowledge transfer during employee onboarding. In addition, there were concise workshops on topics such as prompting, AI law, and funding options—all packed into a single day.
Why aiXbrain organizes such events
For aiXbrain, events like “AI to go” serve as a form of active market observation. Knowing which AI topics are actually resonating with mid-sized companies, which questions remain unanswered, and which solutions are gaining widespread traction is strategically relevant to us.
What became clear in Cologne: SMEs are no longer in the exploratory phase. Many companies are already testing AI, and some are scaling up. The questions are increasingly less about “whether” to use AI, but rather “how exactly”—and above all: how reliable, how secure, and how easily it can be integrated into existing processes.
Three Takeaways from Cologne
Practice trumps theory. The practical examples—ranging from bakeries to social service organizations to retail companies—showed that AI solutions don’t have to be complex to make an impact. Simple, well-integrated applications often deliver more in everyday use than large-scale platform projects.
Legal uncertainty remains a stumbling block. Several participants raised questions regarding the EU AI Act, data protection, and liability. The accompanying legal workshop was well-attended—a sign that clarity on compliance is a prerequisite for broad acceptance.
Networking has substance. The networking breaks were not just filler but time well spent. Direct exchange between companies—without sales pressure, on equal footing—is the unique selling point of such formats compared to trade shows or webinars.
Conclusion: Inspiration with a down-to-earth approach
“AI to go” in Cologne was a good example of how meaningful AI transfer works: concrete, user-oriented, without buzzword inflation. For aiXbrain, the day was a confirmation that the market is maturing—and that agent-based AI solutions that focus on reliability and true integration provide exactly the right answers to the right questions. aiXbrain is continuing its tour. More on this in the following blog posts.
Click here for the YouTube video of the event
Further links: Cologne Chamber
of Commerce and Industry – AI to go: ihk.de/koeln → AI
