Last Thursday 15th of May, at AI Knowledge Exchange: Think Global, AI Local, we weren’t talking about chip speeds or billion-dollar valuations. We were talking about what matters when the novelty wears off: trust, ethics, and the cultural forces shaping what we build — and why.

In a world growing suspicious of algorithms and divided by borders, something refreshingly analog happened in Basel last Thursday: People gathered. In person. To talk. About AI.

The event, hosted by Friends of Korea, brought together a Swiss-Korean community of 35 curious minds, thoughtful leaders, and the kind of interdisciplinary awkwardness that sparks genuine insight.

A Quiet Revolution in a Memorial Site

We met at the Gedenkstätte Riehen, Switzerland’s only memorial site dedicated to victims of National Socialism. That was no accident. The venue itself reminded us: technological progress divorced from human values is no progress at all.

So when Uwe Neumeier, Executive Board Member of Church Data Center in Southwest Germany, spoke about AI in churches and welfare, it didn’t feel like a sidebar — it felt like a moral compass. Christian Widmer, ex-Microsoft, grounded the buzzwords in real-world governance. Roger Graber and Robert Mahr talked policy and platforms. And Ole Vossnack, an ex-CERN physicist, reminded us that character — not just code — determines our future.

AI Meets Empathy (And Korean Apéro)

The night ended not just with impulses, but also with open conversation and a Korean apéro riche: fried chicken, Japchae, Mandoo and a lot of laughter. No one was selling disruption. But something was quietly taking root: empathy, connection, and shared questions.

So What?

In a time of walls — digital, political, emotional — we need more spaces like this. Spaces where East meets West, where ethics meet enterprise, and where dialogue feels more urgent than dominance. In a fragmented world, these grassroots efforts show us what international engagement can look like: grounded in trust, curiosity, and the courage to tackle big questions together.

Friends of Korea is a living network of professionals, students, and bridge-builders who believe: connection is the real innovation. So no, AI didn’t host this evening. People did. And maybe that’s the point.

Supported by Partners and Members Who Share Our Vision

This evening was made possible thanks to the generous support of many wonderful people, supporters, and partner organizations, including Czwalina Consulting AG — a main sponsor of the event who believes, like we do, that innovation without cultural context misses the point.

As Michael Czwalina, put it:

“Cultural dialogue and innovation go hand in hand. We’re proud to support this unique platform connecting people and creating opportunities between Korea and Switzerland.”

When sponsorship and membership become a shared purpose, that’s where real partnership begins.