Dear members of the AI focus group!

On Monday, December 8, 2025 , our monthly meeting of the AI focus group of the digitalHUB Aachen took place – and with almost 50 participants, we set a new attendance record at the end of the year 😊

The following are the key points of the meeting "in text form":



• Company visit to AIXTRON – next step. In recent meetings, the desire to visit member companies directly on-site and experience firsthand how AI is already being used became increasingly clear. This idea is now taking shape: Tim G. from AIXTRON has invited us to take a look behind the scenes at their Heerlen location and learn about the company's specific AI applications. Around 25 participants spontaneously expressed interest in attending such a meeting – as usual, on a Monday at 5:00 p.m. Together with Tim, we are now agreeing on a specific date and will then begin the detailed planning. We already announced this format in the last newsletter – so now it's time to put it into practice. We will inform you as soon as the date and details are finalized. And as always: If you would like to host a visit yourself, please feel free to get in touch.

• “What I did with AI last month” – Anonymization proxy for LLMs. In this section, I presented an exciting result from one of our project and bachelor's theses : Adil M. developed an anonymization proxy that enables the use of commercial LLMs in compliance with data protection regulations. The basic idea: Before a request is sent to models like ChatGPT, it passes through a proxy that automatically anonymizes all personal data . Based on Microsoft Presidio – a completely locally operated, open-source solution without cloud dependency – sensitive information is detected, replaced, and mapped for later reverse translation . The LLM's response is then deanonymized , so there is no disruption in the user experience. In addition to the classic proxy, this function has now also been integrated into Open WebUI : There, it can be easily activated as an option for all installed models via a pipeline . The presentation was met with great interest and sparked many lively discussions during the subsequent networking session. If you are interested in this approach or its potential use, please feel free to contact me.

• Keynote presentation: “Agentic AI Orchestration using a Camunda Process” A true highlight of the meeting came from Christian L. In an impressive live demo , he demonstrated how even complex processes can be modeled as workflows with surprising ease using Camunda – and how AI-supported decisions can be integrated at crucial points. Using a fictitious license order request as an example , he guided the audience step-by-step through the process and demonstrated how the AI automatically makes appropriate decisions based on defined options , thus efficiently controlling and optimizing the entire workflow. Many thanks to Christian for this exciting demo!

• Specialist group updates : There are also positive developments in our specialist groups:

• Compliance Working Group Sabine T. aims to introduce new initiatives and significantly expand the group's activities next year . Plans include an email distribution list through which members can submit their questions about GDPR, AIVO, and related topics . The submitted questions will gradually form the basis for FAQs, best practices , and other helpful materials. This will establish the working group as an easily accessible resource for practical data protection questions within the AI working group.



• New specialist group: "Software development with AI" Following the lively discussion at the last meeting, a new specialist group has now been founded: Software development with AI.

  Those present include Jan B., Alex Z., Mari K. and Nico R.; Artur L. has also signaled his interest.

  The group is dedicated to a highly topical and at the same time controversial subject: To what extent can software development already be meaningfully automated with AI today – and under what conditions can this approach function almost autonomously in the near future?

  This topic will surely continue to be relevant for a long time, and the specialist group offers a structured space for exchange, experience and experimentation.

  Anyone who would like to get involved or simply learn more is welcome to contact us.

  
  

• Landing Page/PR Working Group – Successfully Completed The Landing Page/PR working group has now disbanded – and for a very good reason: its task has been accomplished . The AI working group's landing page has been successfully created, launched, and is now being maintained automatically. The group has thus fully achieved its purpose, and we sincerely thank Patrick H. and Florian C. for their dedication.



• Pizza Sponsor digitalHUB / EDIH A huge thank you goes to digitalHUB Aachen and EDIH , who have once again sponsored the pizza – especially Anna, Michael, and Iris ! 🍕

• Next meeting : Monday, January 12, 2026 , 5 p.m., at the digitalHUB Aachen. Further details will follow in the invitation. If anyone has ideas for a keynote speech or would like to share something in the "What I did with AI last month" section, please get in touch!

At this point, we would also like to remind you once again about the survey regarding your prior knowledge of AI, expectations, and wishes for the focus group:

https://forms.gle/9oQY1sr6uYR8StT2A



That's all for now.



As the year draws to a close , we would like to sincerely thank you for your active and reliable participation in the focus group meetings . Your commitment, your questions, and your contributions make the AI Focus Group what it is – and significantly contribute to advancing the Aachen region in the field of AI . This motivates us enormously! We wish you a wonderful Christmas season , relaxing days with your loved ones, and a happy New Year.



We look forward to seeing you again in January at the digitalHUB !

Stefan and Marcel