EBU experts explore AI and future of radio in Germany
October 8, 2026 22.03 Europe/London By Jörn Krieger

Around 100 media professionals from across the world have gathered at German broadcaster SWR’s media centre in Baden-Baden to discuss how public service media service organisations can reach younger audiences and maintain their independence in an increasingly platform-driven media landscape.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is hosting the meetings which started with the EBU Gaming Meet-Up on 7-8 October 2026. The programme also includes the EBU Audio & Radio Futures Forum on 14 and 15 October. The annual event, formerly known as the New Radio Day, brings together radio and audio innovation and strategy executives from Europe, Canada and Australia.

“We are accompanying people through a profound transformation of the media landscape. Gaming, AI and new audio offerings provide added value for our audiences. That is why we are bringing experts from across Europe together in Baden-Baden to share experiences and learn from one another,” said SWR Director-General Kai Gniffke.

The discussions focus on the opportunities and challenges presented by artificial intelligence (AI), digital platforms and changing audience behaviour. A key concern for public service media organisations is their dependence on commercial platforms whose algorithms and business models influence the visibility and distribution of journalistic content.

“Our speakers come from countries including Armenia, Australia, France, the UK, Canada, Scandinavia and Ukraine. The openness and quality of the discussions on the first day have already demonstrated the strong demand for this kind of international exchange,” said Christian Hufnagel, the SWR host on behalf of ARD. “For anyone working in digital journalism today, platforms are indispensable, yet they set their own rules and influence our visibility. It is therefore all the more important to learn from one another and develop joint responses to these developments across the public service media sector,” he added.

AI’s practical applications in audio production are another central topic. Journalist Marie Kilg, who previously developed AI-powered audio features at Amazon Alexa and most recently led AI strategy at Deutsche Welle, examines where the technology can deliver tangible benefits for audio products and where expectations exceed its current capabilities. Her presentation also explores the implications for jobs, professional roles and organisational structures within public service broadcasting.

The programme also examines the position of public service media in the wider platform economy. Maxi-Josephine Rauch, a researcher at Bauhaus University Weimar specialising in digital economies, leads a workshop exploring the role broadcasters can play in a media environment shaped by disinformation, distortion and commercial algorithms – and considering whether public service media can provide a space for public debate that commercial platforms fail to offer.

The events are designed to encourage knowledge-sharing and discussion among media professionals. Selected sessions will be made available on demand, with further content published through the social media channels of the SWR and EBU.

Further information about the EBU Audio & Radio Futures Forum is available at www.ebu.ch/events/audio-radio-futures-forum.