Erasmus+ Meeting in Friedberg: Focus on Artificial Intelligence
Friedberg – What does it feel like when a robot dog wins your heart? What really happens inside the “black box” of an AI? And what does the Eurovision Song Contest look like when artificial intelligence takes the stage? Students and teachers from Torre Annunziata, Madrid, Silivri, and Friedberg experienced all this and more at the Erasmus+ meeting at Burggymnasium in Friedberg, which this year placed the fascinating world of artificial intelligence at its center.
A Warm Welcome and Creative Talents
Right from the start, the Welcome Evening set a warm, friendly tone. Over good food and a lively atmosphere, students and teachers came together for the first time. Two students from Friedberg provided cultural highlights: Lavinia Baulig impressed with a touching vocal performance, while Su Can amazed with a self-designed acrobatic choreography. Both contributed significantly to making the program vibrant and personal. A big thanks also goes to the host families who opened their homes with great hospitality.
Learning, Exploring, and Marveling – Hands-On AI
At the heart of the program was an exploration of artificial intelligence. Workshops and discussions made it clear how much AI already shapes our daily lives—and the ethical questions that come with it. A special highlight was the visit to the Technical University of Central Hesse (THM) in Friedberg. There, Professor Weber and Dennis Pöpperl provided practical insight into programming an image recognition AI with Python. Participants could adjust variables themselves and observe how the AI’s behavior changed—an exciting look into processes that usually remain hidden.
Technology Meets History and Culture
In addition to technical work, there was plenty of cultural discovery. A city rally through Friedberg featured historic sites such as the Mikveh, the city church, and the castle complex. In Marburg, the Landgrave’s Castle offered a humorous guided tour, with much discussion sparked by the many marital offspring of Landgrave Philip. At the German Museum in Bonn, AI was explored in a playful way—especially the robot dog, with its amazingly lifelike movements, which quickly captured the participants’ hearts.
Creative Finale with an AI Stage
The grand finale took place in Friedberg Castle: at the “Eurovision AI Song Contest,” students presented songs they had created throughout the week using AI. In addition to student presentations on the topic of AI, Italian teacher and filmmaker Giulio Tramontano Guerritore showed an impressive video in which an AI-animated Alan Turing discussed the opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence. Particularly exciting was Giulio’s insight into the creative process—a successful blend of technical finesse and human passion.
At the joyful farewell party, there was one last round of dancing, laughter, and shared memories. On Saturday, it was time to say goodbye—with many new impressions, cross-border friendships, and a sharpened perspective on the potential and challenges of modern technology.
A European project that connects—people, ideas, and the future.
