Non-binding request for Gunter Dueck
Gunter Dueck
Mathematician, former Chief Innovator at IBM, philosopher, future-thinker and bestseller-author on the future of digitalisation.
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Why book Gunter Dueck for your next event
- Gunter Dueck blends science, philosophy, and humour to explain how technology transforms work and leadership. His keynotes challenge assumptions, spark creative thinking, and inspire organisations to embrace digital change with intelligence, courage, and authentic human insight.
- Booking Gunter Dueck means gaining a visionary who translates complex technology into human stories. With wit and depth, he helps audiences rethink leadership, communication, and innovation, motivating teams to face digital transformation with curiosity and courage.
- A former IBM CTO and mathematician, Gunter Dueck brings strategic clarity to digital transformation. His engaging talks reveal how creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking drive sustainable innovation and smarter decision-making in rapidly changing organisations.
Non-binding request for Gunter Dueck
Thinking Beyond Logic: The Human Side of Innovation
Is the future really as bleak as people claim? Gunter Dueck, a lateral and forward thinker, delivers clever, ironic, and insightful analyses of modern society. The former IBM CTO, mathematics professor, and bestselling author breaks conventions and provokes reflection with sharp observation. Covering digitalization, education, and management, the “Wild Duck” challenges perspectives with wit, depth, and integrity.
Prof. Dr. Gunter Dueck is a mathematician, philosopher, and visionary thinker who spent over 25 years at IBM, most recently as Chief Technology Officer. There, he helped shape the company’s global innovation strategy, focusing on the intersection of digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and human potential. Before entering the corporate world, he was a professor at the University of Bielefeld, where his research and teaching were grounded in logic, systems thinking, and applied mathematics.
Known for his eloquence and humor, Gunter Dueck has become one of Germany’s most distinctive voices on technology and society. Through bestselling books, online columns, and hundreds of lectures, he encourages audiences to question conformity and to cultivate creative intelligence, not only in business, but in everyday life.
He challenges management clichés, exposes the absurdities of bureaucracy, and defends the need for real education in an age of digital distraction. His lectures are not merely presentations, but experiences, blending scientific rigor with satire, vision, and a warm sense of irony. Whether speaking to executives, educators, or engineers, Gunter connects complex ideas with real-world meaning and emotion.
Today, he continues to write, lecture, and inspire across industries, showing how courage, intelligence, and humor can drive meaningful change.
Customer Reviews
5 of 5
“The lecture was not only informative but also very entertaining. It motivates rethinking and re-doing.”
Elena IsaakSiemens AG
5 of 5
“We received many useful thoughts, thank you very much!”
Nadine Fischerbadenova AG & Co.KG
5 of 5
“It was a pointed and incisive talk. Thank you for that!”
Ulli NaefkenEvangelical Church in Baden
5 of 5
“As expected, Prof. Dr. Dueck succeeded in getting the team to think. Many thanks.”
Oliver ThylmannGiant Swarm GmbH
5 of 5
“In his talk, Prof. Gunter Dueck addressed a highly relevant topic and inspired new ways of thinking. With his style and energy, he perfectly matched the mood of the event.”
Marina Tropmann-Frick Hamburg University of Applied Sciences
5 of 5
“Prof. Dueck fully convinced in content and didactics, even in the Q&A.”
Konstantin LambrinovSopra Financial Technology
5 of 5
“The participants found the lecture very inspiring and could agree with many aspects. A perfect conclusion to the day that prompts reflection.”
Ingrid Della GiustinaHandelsblatt
5 of 5
“It was a very entertaining lecture. Mr Dueck was extremely friendly and easy to work with. After the lecture he took time to speak with individual guests. We were completely happy!”
Ingo StefesHeinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf
5 of 5
“Very good talk, very entertaining.”
Kerstin BrennerLandratsamt Böblingen
5 of 5
“‘Just do it! Full stop.’ – Mr Dueck’s talk was very successful and gave the audience many interesting impulses!”
Stefan WegenerUniNow GmbH
5 of 5
“Gunter Dueck reached the audience very well with his pointed and unusual way of building a talk. He connected ideas masterfully and stayed approachable and engaging throughout. Feedback was consistently positive to enthusiastic.”
Rainer GrauIREB e.V.
5 of 5
“Mr Dueck delivered an impulse that resonated very well with all participants. Some aspects were also picked up thematically by following speakers.”
Tim Neumann Westsächsische Hochschule Zwickau
5 of 5
“The talk was a major added value for our event. Very informative, dynamic, entertaining – exactly the right mix.”
Holger DölleAlso Deutschland / ANW
5 of 5
“Gunter Dueck knows how to reach each audience and captivate them with his pleasant voice, stories and recommendations. The impulses are down-to-earth, understandable and encourage discussion and creative thinking. His books and live performances are gems for our time.”
Remo WegmannCRB
5 of 5
“Gunter manages like no one else to captivate the audience with practical examples. He skilfully points out things and provides new perspectives for disruptive business models.”
Michael DieterPlusnet GmbH – a company of EnBW
5 of 5
“Very inspiring and exciting mental exercises.”
HaydlBoehringer Ingelheim
5 of 5
“Mr Prof. Dr. Dueck engaged our participants superbly. With his humorous and authentic manner and his knowledge, he carried everyone along. A smart mind who also addresses uncomfortable topics.”
Franziska HeuerHeuer Dialog GmbH
5 of 5
“In his unique, competent, serious yet humorous style he presented his view of the key technical developments and artificial intelligence. Especially interesting was his perspective on Germany’s positioning and what companies must do to keep up. A perfect keynote for a tech-oriented customer event.”
Stefan LeinIBM Deutschland GmbH
5 of 5
“As expected, a special highlight. A deep insight into the management behaviour of large companies, with humour and satire. Opens the view into a world that ‘normal’ employees would normally never see. I also liked that he didn’t just ‘do his time’ but was willing to deliver even more and stay present after his talk.”
Alexander SchneiderMarquardt GmbH
5 of 5
“Very interesting, inspiring and entertaining!”
Emilia BichePROFIBUS User Organisation e. V
Rated 5.00/5 based on 20 customer reviews
Keynotes
Keynote by Gunter Dueck:
The AI Complex
AI has been around for a long time. Computers have long been able to play chess far better than humans and detect lung cancer in X-rays. But until now, AI has felt as distant and soulless to most people as “math.” Today, however, with ChatGPT, that distance has suddenly disappeared. Anyone can ask the internet almost anything and receive surprisingly good answers. Yes, there are still many factual mistakes, but the wording is elegant, and there are no spelling errors.
Writers immediately use ChatGPT. Programmers let it draft algorithmic ideas. Artists create new images and videos. The magic word is Generative AI.
On the other hand, visions of the future are exploding. What will AI become after another ten or twenty years of research and refinement? Will machines rule? What opportunities for misuse will criminals and dictators exploit? Does AI violate copyright laws? Utopias and dystopias fascinate and frighten both people and the media, which fuel hype and excitement with such questions.
Let’s look soberly at the mathematics behind AI. Expert systems are designed to think like humans, proceeding strictly logically, the “left hemisphere.” Neural networks, on the other hand, develop an intuition similar to that of humans, one that, like ChatGPT, often errs in creative ways, the “right hemisphere.” Sensors and actuators in the Internet of Things allow autonomous cars to “be startled and brake,” trigger alarms, and react instantly, the “gut reaction.”
In short, AI is truly and literally only AI, a technically powerful imitation of the human being. Nothing more for now, or is there more to come? Could there be something beyond the mere imitation of ideas from observable nature?
This lecture sheds light on the AI complex as a factual subject and also addresses the psychological AI complex that unsettles many. What can AI already do today? What can’t it? What is the real situation? What should we fear and what should we look forward to?
Keynote by Gunter Dueck:
Digitalization, Industry 4.0, Work 4.0 and the Impact on Specific Industries
It’s not just about Big Data and AI, but about transformation across all sectors. How is our life and work changing? What does the future hold for us? Speaker Gunter Dueck explores these and many other questions in this keynote. Discover the advantages and challenges of digital transformation and gain a clear understanding of the vast potential this process offers.
Keynote by Gunter Dueck:
Flachsinn – On Good and Bad Attention or a Critique of the New Attention Economy
In the past, it was frowned upon to draw attention to oneself without reason. Today, that has completely changed. Many people can never get enough attention, and social media and other technologies actively encourage this behavior. Speaker Gunter Dueck examines this development, both praising and criticizing the behavioral patterns that define our modern society.
Keynote by Gunter Dueck:
Change! Change!
In a world that sometimes changes overnight, we face constant new challenges. Gunter Dueck examines the problems of continuous transformation and explores the opportunities and obstacles it brings. In this keynote, you will learn how to keep pace with the times and turn change to your advantage. A practical guide for navigating an ever-evolving world.
Keynote by Gunter Dueck:
Swarm Stupidity
Many people haven’t yet recognized the concept of swarm stupidity, often blaming greed or malice alone for what goes wrong in life. In this keynote, based on his book, Gunter Dueck explains why the majority is not always right and how companies can use this understanding to make better decisions and apply collective intelligence more wisely.
Keynote by Gunter Dueck:
Humane Treatment of People – On Nerds, Techies and Other Species
Do you ever feel like a bystander when computer experts and managers talk past each other at work? In this keynote, renowned speaker Gunter Dueck explores exactly this phenomenon of professional worlds coexisting without truly connecting. He offers insights into the “habitat” of techies and shows how different professional cultures interact, or fail to do so. A fascinating look into the dynamics of modern workplaces.
Keynote by Gunter Dueck:
BREAK THROUGH! Why We Must Become a Society of Excellence
Many tasks are already handled by computers today. Do you use online banking? Have you ever bought a car over the internet? As more and more of these activities are automated, what kind of work will be left for us in the future? In this keynote, speaker Gunter Dueck proposes building entirely new industries and ways of creating value. Listen to his forward-thinking solutions that directly concern our collective and individual future.
Keynote by Gunter Dueck:
Cloud Computing, Industrialization of Services and the Impact on the World of Work
Cloud computing is revolutionizing the modern workplace and driving profound change across multiple industries. This technology enables companies to realign and transform their business processes in entirely new ways. In this keynote, you will learn which sectors are most affected and how these developments will influence your own work. Gain valuable insights to prepare yourself and your organization for the future of the digital working world.
Keynote by Gunter Dueck:
Education of the Future or HEAD REFORM
Humans often fear change. How should our children learn in a digital world if not from books? Speaker Gunter Dueck offers alternative ideas and possibilities. Over the past decades, we have experienced enormous transformations that we now take for granted. As Gunter Dueck explains on his website, “Our memory is very short; it can no longer imagine a world without TV or cars.” So why not also imagine a future without printed books?
