Hamburg, 12. Juli 2025 – Am Samstag, den 12. Juni 2025, feierte Hamburg eine Premiere der besonderen Art: Mit „Die KI-Arena: Die KI-Challenge der Generationen“ veranstalteten das Artificial Intelligence Center Hamburg (ARIC) e.V. und die Universität Hamburg eine innovative Spielshow, bei der Künstliche Intelligenz nicht nur Thema, sondern echtes Erlebnis war. In einem bunten Mix aus Wettbewerb, Unterhaltung und Bildungsformat traten Teams von Schüler:innen aus Hamburger Schulen gegen Teams aus Unternehmen der Hansestadt an – generationenübergreifend, praxisnah und mit großem Spaßfaktor.
The aim of the show was to teach AI skills in a creative way and bring different age groups into a playful dialog. In a variety of challenges, the teams programmed robots, formulated prompts for AI models, guessed AI-generated songs and demonstrated their skills in using modern AI tools. Not only technical knowledge was assessed, but also teamwork, inventiveness and enthusiasm for technology.
“With the world premiere of the AI Arena, we have shown that teaching the all-important AI know-how can be exciting, playful and very innovative. We are delighted that so many great Hamburg companies and students from secondary and vocational schools took part.”
– Marina Tcharnetsky, CBDO & Ambassador at ARIC
“Our vision was: a format where AI is not explained – but experienced. With curiosity. With fun. With very different people – from pupils and parents to professionals. Our goal is the broad anchoring of AI competence. We therefore welcome participants from Hamburg schools and vocational colleges as well as from well-known companies.”
– Tilo Böhmann, Vice President for Research at Universität Hamburg
The format made it clear that AI education and innovation can also be communicated in an entertaining and effective way – with a model character far beyond Hamburg.
“It was cool that we could take part and didn’t just have to sit around like at a lesson. And it was also cool that we could win something: Playing was really fun!”
– 5th grade students from Hamburg and participants of the student team
“It was a very impressive and well-organized event. It’s a great way to combine knowledge, information and fun with AI. Perfect.”
– Alexandra, mother of a participating student and spectator
The students won in an exciting head-to-head competition. Congratulations to Hamburg’s first AI champions!
“The AI Arena” impressively illustrated how modern technologies, playful learning and social exchange can work together. The organizers were highly satisfied and have already announced their intention to develop the format further in the future – with the aim of promoting AI expertise across the board and further strengthening cross-generational dialogue.
The event was made possible by the financial support of the sponsors: Aufbruch Hamburg, Club europäischer Unternehmerinnen (CeU), the HHAIScore Initiative with the Interface Society, and the Investitions- und Förderbank Hamburg (IFB) as well as the active support of the supporters: Bücherhallen Hamburg, Hamburger Institut für berufliche Bildung (HIBB), PINKTUM and the Behörde für Schule Familie und Berufsbildung (BSFB)!
About ARIC e.V.
The Artificial Intelligence Center Hamburg (ARIC) is the leading competence center for artificial intelligence (AI) in northern Germany and the official AI initiative of the City of Hamburg. ARIC was founded in 2019 as a non-profit association with the aim of promoting the development, application and dissemination of AI technologies in the Hamburg metropolitan region and beyond. The City of Hamburg is a founding member of ARIC e.V. together with business and science.
About the University of Hamburg
Universität Hamburg is a university of excellence and the largest research and educational institution in northern Germany. It combines outstanding teaching with excellent research and places a special focus on artificial intelligence, digitalization and digital innovation. As a flagship university, it sets trendsetting impulses for society under the motto “Innovating and Cooperating for a Sustainable Future in a Digital Age”.
Press contact:
Photos and video footage of the event are available for editorial use.
- Jan Werum, ARIC e.V.
werum@aric-hamburg.de - Alexander Lemonakis, University of Hamburg
alexander.lemonakis@uni-hamburg.de
