Explaining AI Track
What does it take to trust AI, and why does it matter more than ever?
Organized by the AI Innovation Center, the Explaining AI Track brings together leading companies and experts to tackle this question head-on. The morning program features sessions on integrating AI into industrial high-tech manufacturing, navigating digital sovereignty, and concludes with a deep dive into edge AI and how intelligent agents are entering the physical world. In the afternoon, the focus shifts to applying a human-and-virtual-companion approach to enable smart manufacturing, earning trust through GenAI-driven employee engagement, and ending with a powerful reflection on how to Remain Human in Times of Exponential Technology.
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TIMETABLE
11:00 Coffee break and Expo
11:30 Arnaud Hubaux
12:00 Oscar Bastiaens, two names t.b.a.
12:30 Willem Sanberg
13:00 Lunch break and Expo
14:15 Tom Acland
14:45 Maarten Kelderman, Hans Nikol, Paul Merkus and moderator
15:15 Keynote representative from HP (t.b.a.)
15:45 Rens van der Vorst
Keynote: Arnaud Hubaux
Senior Product Manager AI, ASML
Keynote: Integrating AI in Industrial High-Tech Manufacturing
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Panel: Who Owns the Algorithm?
Panelist: Oscar Bastiaens
Philosopher, Ethics & Technology and Head of programme Academy of Arts Maastricht
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As a philosopher of technology and ethicist, Oscar has been working on the topic of AI for some time. He has a keen interest in human-technology relations and is wary of the techno-optimists in the world today. For him, it is not a question of whether it is possible, but rather if it is desirable. In his current position, Oscar is head of programme at the Art Academy Maastricht.
Two more panellists to be announced
Soon the other two panellists will be announced.
Keynote: Willem Sanberg
Senior Research Engineer Embedded AI Systems at NXP Semiconductors
EdgeAI: Where AI and AI agents Meet the Physical World
By bringing agentic AI to the Edge, NXP Semiconductors provides opens new possibilities for robots, vehicles, and smart homes to perceive, interact with, and influence their environments.
Willem Sanberg works at NXP Semiconductors as a Senior Researcher at the CTO Al Competence Center and is member of NXP's AI Innovation Board. He scouts new Al developments, and defines, executes and evaluates related research projects to assess their relevance for and impact on NXP's technology roadmap. He holds a PhD degree from Eindhoven University of Technology on Computer Vision for ADAS.
As artificial intelligence begins to control these systems, it gains the ability to operate autonomously in dynamic, real-world settings. But what lies at the core of these AI systems? How can such complex functionality run on compact edge devices? And most importantly: how do we ensure these intelligent systems operate safely?
Tom Acland
CEO of 3DEXCITE at Dassault Systèmes
Live Demo: Trust Me, I'm Your Digital Twin
The demo will consider how to combine accurate representation of products with generative story telling. It will showcase how generative AI can contribute to enhance the Human experience of our customers by enabling them to create the representation of their products based on their storytelling and insights, which therefore supports first the human needs and creative experience enhanced by AI to deliver more accurate results in the product representation.
Before joining Dassault Systèmes, Tom served as a startup founder and in managerial roles at large enterprises, including Microsoft, Publicis Groupe, and Bosch; leading pioneering programs enhancing real-world products with virtual experiences or working on IoT architecture to connect hardware systems with user experiences in light electric vehicles.
Now, as CEO of 3DEXCITE at Dassault Systèmes, Tom leads a global team of technologists and creative experts dedicated to developing and delivering virtual commercial twins for industrial companies. 3DEXCITE provides software and solutions that enable manufacturers to create high-fidelity virtual representations of products for customer and end-user applications.
Dassault Systèmes will develop a dedicated demo and presentation for the AI Summit. In the meantime, you can view an example of how our technology is applied via the following link.
Panel: How to earn trust with Generative AI projects, driving employee engagement and adoption
Panelist: Maarten Kelderman
R&D IT Director at NXP Semiconductors
Maarten Kelderman is the R&D IT Director at NXP Semiconductors where he is responsible for the EDA design infrastructure environments that are used globally for hardware design. Maarten has more than 20 years of experience leading IT solution development programs and transformations in the high-tech industry.
Panelist: Paul Merkus
Head of the Research Support Office at TU/e
Paul Merkus joined the TU/e in 2018 after 30 years of industry experience in high-tech R&D within the Brainport region. Next to being head of the Research Support Office of the TU/e and coordinating public-private partnership projects of the TU/e, he is also active in EAISI, the Eindhoven AI Systems institute. Paul is also active within EAISI (Eindhoven Artificial Intelligence Systems Institute) and is a passionate AI enthusiast. As an early adopter of responsible generative AI in research and innovation, he is actively exploring how to harness the AI wave for both academic and societal benefit—while remaining vigilant about its risks.
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Panel Moderator: Felipe Augusto Chies
Head of Generative AI & ML GTM Europe North at AWS
As a leader in Generative AI and Machine Learning at AWS, Felipe Chies bridges the gap between cutting-edge technology and business impact. Felipe drives go-to-market strategies in the Benelux, Nordics, and Baltics, empowering customers to unlock the full potential of AWS's AI stack.
Keynote: Rens van der Vorst
Technophilosopher @ Fontys University
Keynote: How to Remain Human in Times of Exponential Technology
In times of exponential technology it becomes more and more important to understand what it means to be human. After all, only if we understand what makes us unique as human beings we can design, implement and use technology that truly supports us. Rens van der Vorst designed a thought framework based on digital gremlins, to help you reach that goal.
Rens van der Vorst (Breda) teaches, writes, does research and writes funny and bestselling books on technology. He offers a combination of stand-up and content as a keynote speaker.
His newest book is called Don't mention the VAR, an exploration of a world filled with rules and technology that slowly loses the focus on intention. And how we can take back control.
Arnaud Hubaux
Senior Product Manager AI, ASML
Keynote: Integrating AI in Industrial High-Tech Manufacturing
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Panel: Who Owns the Algorithm? A conversation on AI, power, and sovereignty
Panellist: Oscar Bastiaens
Bio
As a philosopher of technology and ethicist, Oscar has been working on the topic of AI for some time. He has a keen interest in human-technology relations and is wary of the techno-optimists in the world today. For him, it is not a question of whether it is possible, but rather if it is desirable. In his current position, Oscar is head of programme at the Art Academy Maastricht.
Two more panellists to be announced
Soon the other two panellists will be announced.
Keynote: Willem Sanberg
Senior Research Engineer Embedded AI Systems at NXP Semiconductors
EdgeAI: Where AI and AI agents Meet the Physical World
By bringing agentic AI to the Edge, NXP Semiconductors provides opens new possibilities for robots, vehicles, and smart homes to perceive, interact with, and influence their environments.
As artificial intelligence begins to control these systems, it gains the ability to operate autonomously in dynamic, real-world settings. But what lies at the core of these AI systems? How can such complex functionality run on compact edge devices? And most importantly: how do we ensure these intelligent systems operate safely?
Bio
Willem Sanberg works at NXP Semiconductors as a Senior Researcher at the CTO Al Competence Center and is member of NXP's AI Innovation Board. He scouts new Al developments, and defines, executes and evaluates related research projects to assess their relevance for and impact on NXP's technology roadmap. He holds a PhD degree from Eindhoven University of Technology on Computer Vision for ADAS.
Tom Acland
Live Demo: Trust Me, I'm Your Digital Twin
Applying a human and virtual companions approach to enable manufacturing, life sciences and infrastructure projects
Panel: How to earn trust with Generative AI projects, driving employee engagement and adoption
Panellist: Maarten Kelderman
R&D IT Director at NXP Semiconductors
Maarten Kelderman is the R&D IT Director at NXP Semiconductors where he is responsible for the EDA design infrastructure environments that are used globally for hardware design. Maarten has more than 20 years of experience leading IT solution development programs and transformations in the high-tech industry.
Panellist: Hans Nikol
Head of IoT at Signify
Hans Nikol has been with Signify and before Philips for close to 30 years and is currently responsible for Open Innovation and IoT. Signify IoT connects over more than 100 M devices in consumer and professional lighting segments.
Panellist: Paul Merkus
Head of the Research Support Office at TU/e
Paul Merkus joined the TU/e in 2018 after 30 years of industry experience in high-tech R&D within the Brainport region. Next to being head of the Research Support Office of the TU/e and coordinating public-private partnership projects of the TU/e, he is also active in EAISI, the Eindhoven AI Systems institute. Paul is also active within EAISI (Eindhoven Artificial Intelligence Systems Institute) and is a passionate AI enthusiast. As an early adopter of responsible generative AI in research and innovation, he is actively exploring how to harness the AI wave for both academic and societal benefit—while remaining vigilant about its risks.
View profile on LinkedIn
Panel moderator: Felipe Augusto Chies
Head of Generative AI & ML GTM Europe North at AWS
As a leader in Generative AI and Machine Learning at AWS, Felipe Chies bridges the gap between cutting-edge technology and business impact. Felipe drives go-to-market strategies in the Benelux, Nordics, and Baltics, empowering customers to unlock the full potential of AWS's AI stack.
Keynote HP
Soon to be announced
Keynote: Rens van der Vorst
Technophilosopher @ Fontys University
Keynote: How to Remain Human in Times of Exponential Technology
In times of exponential technology it becomes more and more important to understand what it means to be human. After all, only if we understand what makes us unique as human beings we can design, implement and use technology that truly supports us. Rens van der Vorst designed a thought framework based on digital gremlins, to help you reach that goal.
