On Thursday, October 19, 2023, the Dravinjski Business Club and the Zlatorog Celje Entrepreneurs’ Club hosted an engaging professional autumn meeting at the Noordung Center in Vitanje titled “SMART FUTURE: Artificial Intelligence and Sustainable Development.” This event explored the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI), sustainable development, and the business world. Participants delved into the implications of rapid technological advancements, including tools like ChatGPT, Claude 2, and DALL-E, on everyday life and business practices.
A notable highlight of the event was the panel discussion on artificial intelligence, which featured a 3D avatar of Herman Potočnik Noordung powered by AI. This cutting-edge avatar was developed by young entrepreneurs Luka Slapnik and Žiga Gobec from Slovenske Konjice, showcasing the innovative potential of AI-driven solutions.
Dr. Vladan Mladenović, president of the Zlatorog Celje Entrepreneurs’ Club, emphasized the importance of events like this, stating, “Entrepreneurial clubs, such as ours and the Dravinjski Business Club, act as architects, building bridges between all of us. This meeting was a testament to our collaborative efforts, bringing together two highly relevant roundtables: one on Artificial Intelligence and the other on Sustainable Development and Circular Economy. Both topics are timely and offered attendees valuable insights.”
The first panel, moderated by Boštjan Kožuh, featured esteemed speakers including Martin Marzidovšek from the Ministry of Digital Transformation, Marko Grobelnik from the Jožef Stefan Institute, and David Kvaternik, director of Tovarna.TECH. Panelists concluded that while AI adoption in business should proceed with caution, now is the time for entrepreneurs to educate themselves, experiment with generative AI tools, and brainstorm how these technologies can streamline business processes.
The event also celebrated the importance of culture and sports, with a vibrant performance by dancers from the TBA Dance Center in Celje. Representing Slovenia on the European and World Championship stages, their success is a testament to the dedication of their coaches Manca Langus, Patricija Crnkovič, and Nia Blažan.
Tadej Slapnik, HashNet CEO and president of the Dravinjski Business Club, reflected on the event’s success, saying, “Our autumn meeting, organized in collaboration with the Zlatorog Celje Entrepreneurs’ Club, was a resounding success. We connected two critical topics for businesses and society at large: the disruptive impact of AI technologies like ChatGPT and the necessity of transitioning to sustainable, circular business models. Advanced technologies, particularly AI, will play a central role in these transitions.”
The second panel featured prominent figures such as Dragica Marinič from the Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute, Katja Zajko, director of ReCosi, Barbara Simonič from EIT Climate KIC, and Andrej Poklič, director of GKN Driveline. They unanimously agreed that the shift from a linear to a circular economy is essential, not only for environmental but also for economic reasons.
HashNET’s participation in the event underscores our commitment to harnessing technology to drive innovation and sustainability. Events like these reaffirm the transformative potential of AI and blockchain in shaping a sustainable and technologically advanced future. As a leader in blockchain solutions, HashNET continues to foster collaboration and innovation in addressing global challenges.
