TLDR

  • Germany’s two-day Digital Summit began in Berlin on November 2, 2026
  • The motto is “Shaping AI: safe, sovereign, competitive”
  • Chancellor Friedrich Merz will speak and meet a humanoid robot
  • German and UK defense ministers will discuss using AI in military cooperation
  • Canada is a key partner, including a link between Cohere and Aleph Alpha

Germany’s government opened its two-day Digital Summit in Berlin on Monday. The event focuses on how Germany and Europe can compete better in artificial intelligence. It also looks at how they can become more independent in the technology.

The summit runs under the motto “Shaping AI: safe, sovereign, competitive.” Digital ministers from European countries and Canada are expected to attend. European Commission representatives and experts from business and academia will also take part.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz will attend and speak to guests. He is also scheduled to be introduced to a humanoid robot. A photo from an earlier event showed black robots with the name Neura on their chests.

Federal Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger opened the conference. He said the summit reflects Germany’s ambition to make AI safe and trustworthy. He added that it aims to strengthen the position of Germany and Europe in international competition.

Focus on Canada and Europe’s AI Industry

International cooperation plays an important role at the summit. Canada is a leading centre for AI research. It is also a possible partner for Europe as it tries to rely less on US technology companies.

One example is the cooperation between Canadian AI company Cohere and Heidelberg-based Aleph Alpha. The two companies aim to develop AI tools together. These would be built for businesses and public institutions.

Other key topics include AI safety. Guests will also discuss the use of intelligent systems in industry and in robotics. A further topic is the growth of a strong European AI ecosystem.

Defense Talks and Other German News

Separately, the German and UK defense ministers are set to discuss AI in the military. They will talk about using it more in cooperation between the two countries.

Other news in Germany drew attention on the same day. The German Retail Association condemned riots that followed youth protests on Saturday. Tens of thousands of young people took part in protests across the country. They called for better education funding and steps to lower the cost of living.

The protests were largely peaceful. In some cities, they were followed by rioting and looting. In Frankfurt, rioters threw stones and petrol bombs, smashed shop windows and looted businesses.

Association boss Stefan Genth said society as a whole has a responsibility to act. He said retailers should be able to work without being unsure about their safety. He added that violence has no place in Germany.

Genth also called it alarming that some retailers took extra security steps on Saturday. Some had to close their shops entirely. Police stood outside businesses in Frankfurt on Sunday morning to prevent looting.

A 34-year-old man is also set to go on trial in Leipzig. He is accused of a deadly car ramming six months ago in which two people were killed. German gas storage levels are also well below those required by law ahead of the heating season.