Raphael Gielgen

EXPLORING THE SYSTEMS SHAPING OUR FUTURE

What does a world look like in which artificial intelligence, robotics, and autonomous systems are fundamentally transforming work, the economy, and society?

Raphael Gielgen is a trend scout for the future of work, life, and learning at Vitra. His workplace is the world. Every year, he visits more than 100 companies, startups, research labs, and organizations in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the U.S. He meets people who are developing new technologies, challenging existing economic paradigms, and experimenting with new forms of work, organization, and value creation.

He trained as a carpenter and a business administrator. This perspective on materials, craftsmanship, and the knowledge gained through hands-on experience continues to shape how he thinks about technology and organization to this day.

He views artificial intelligence, robotics, energy, science, and architecture as components of a new economic and social system. He distills his observations in WORK PANORAMA, a map of the technologies, ideas, and patterns that will shape our future. He aims to reveal connections, challenge existing assumptions, and open up new perspectives on tomorrow’s world for companies.

Raphael Gielgen lecture topics

THE NEXT ECONOMY

When intelligence is no longer a scarce resource, the entire economy changes.

Artificial intelligence, robotics, and autonomous systems challenge the existing relationships between capital, labor, productivity, and value creation.

• What happens when companies create more value with fewer people?
• What business models will emerge when the cost of intelligence drops dramatically?
• Which assumptions about growth, employment, and competition will no longer hold true?

THE FUTURE OF HUMAN WORK

As machines become capable of doing more and more, we must redefine what humans do.

AI agents are taking on tasks, coordinating processes, and transforming the architecture of companies. Knowledge work is facing a fundamental realignment—possibly the most profound since its inception.

• Will we still need departments, hierarchies, and job descriptions in the future?
• How do humans and AI agents work together as teams?
• How can organizations become more adaptable and capable of taking action?

THE FUTURE OF PLACE

If work can take place anywhere, why do we need shared spaces?

Artificial intelligence, new organizational models, and shifting value creation are prompting a reevaluation of the role of physical spaces.

• What kinds of spaces do organizations that work with AI agents need?
• What makes physical spaces valuable when digital services are available everywhere?
• How do we design buildings that remain relevant throughout their entire life cycle?

THE BROKEN LADDER

How do people become experts when AI takes over the work they’ve traditionally learned from?

AI automates precisely those tasks through which young people have historically grown into their professions. This puts experience, judgment, and expertise under pressure.

• How do people learn to evaluate machines if they’ve never performed the work themselves?
• What training and learning models do companies need?
• How do we prevent AI from boosting our productivity while undermining our skills?

TRIAL & ERROR

The future as an experiment.

The conditions of the future are changing faster than our organizations. Perhaps that is why we need fewer predictions and more courage to experiment.

• Why are traditional strategy processes no longer sufficient?
• How can companies test possible futures under real-world conditions?
• How does knowledge of the future translate into concrete action?

What Makes His Talks Special

100+ ORGANIZATIONS A YEAR. 20+ COUNTRIES. ONE GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE.

His perspective emerges where the future is already being tested: in research labs, companies, production facilities, and innovation ecosystems around the world. This gives rise to unusual connections between technologies, economic models, social change, and physical locations.

He speaks at international conferences, executive events, festivals, and corporate events in more than 20 countries each year. His talks invite audiences to view the familiar world from a different perspective and ask questions that open up new possibilities.

THE FUTURE IS NOT CHANGING ONE THING. IT IS CHANGING HOW EVERYTHING CONNECTS.

Interested in working with Raphael Gielgen?

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