CultTech Association & NR Ventures present

AI and the Evolution of Creativity
Empowering Artistic Innovation or Undermining Human Originality?
Panel talk + Concert session / ViennaUP Festival / Haus der Musik / 4 June, 17:00
CultTech Association & NR Ventures present
AI and the Evolution of Creativity
Empowering Artistic Innovation or Undermining Human Originality?
Panel talk + Concert session / ViennaUP Festival / Haus der Musik / 4 June, 17:00
  • CultTech Association and New Renaissance Ventures are thrilled to present a dynamic program delving into the intersection of culture and technology.
The number of technologies that have had a major effect on culture is endless: printing press, phonograph, GIF — you name it. But what technologies are transforming the cultural landscape right now? If it’s AI — how can it be effectively utilised in creative industries? What approaches are worth consideration, and should we worry about the role of human intelligence in the future?
17:00 - Panel Talk

«AI and the Evolution of Creativity: Empowering Artistic Innovation or Undermining Human Originality?»

The panel discussion will be dedicated to using artificial intelligence (AI) in creative industries. One of the key parts of the debate will, of course, deal with the potential impact of AI on human intelligence: should the artists and cultural figures be scared — or is now actually the time when they have the final say in shaping our future?


The audience will have an exclusive chance to raise questions and voice their opinions with leaders innovating at the intersection of creative expression, such as:

  • Benjamin James
    Founder of Atlas Design
    Ben James is the CEO & Founder of 3D generative AI platform Atlas. When Ben entered the architecture profession, he was shocked at the limited role new technology played in the design process, and discovered that the lack of automation meant that creative individuals spent too much time on tasks not suited to their expertise. He founded Atlas in 2021 to augment and focus designers’ creativity, with an emphasis on gaming and virtual world-building.
  • Alexander Brix
    Head of Ops Europe at Canva
    Alex Brix is the former COO of Kaleido AI, one of the first visual AI companies in Europe which was acquired by Canva in 2021. He played a pivotal role in scaling the bootstrapped SaaS to an impressive €9M ARR within only two years, and 33M MAUs today. Currently, he is the Head of Operations Europe at Canva, building a team of 250 across the region. Beyond his operational and commercial expertise, Brix engages in angel investing, focusing on early-stage startups in SaaS and AI.
  • Tonia Samsonova
    Founder of exactly.ai
    Tonia Samsonova is a serial entrepreneur and founder of Exactly.ai — a platform which enables artists to easily train their own personalised AI model and scale their creative work, while keeping ownership of every image created and the model which created it. She lives in London and has four children.
  • Severin Zugmayer
    Founder of NRV
    Severin has over 10 years of experience in top-tier VC, global FMCG and Big Tech. Before launching New Renaissance Ventures, he was an investor at Speedinvest where he invested in and worked with the best, like Europe's highest valued EdTech startup GoStudent or one of the most prominent tech startups in the Cultural and Creative Industries, Inkitt. Alongside the founding partners of Speedinvest, he was also responsible for securing half a billion €€€ in fresh funding for the latest funds.
19:00 - Concert

Comment-concert by X-TET

A blend of Mozart, Reich, AI and generative video art


A unique opportunity to witness culttech impacting the classical music industry. This event will showcase the X-TET concept and the format of “comment-concert”, when musicians explain the pieces they play and help the audience to find their personal jewels in each piece.

The ensemble musicians and the project's patron, the CultTech Association, share a common goal: to bring the enchanting world of music to wider audiences, breaking down barriers, and dismantling the elitist notions that often surround classical and contemporary academic music. Our approach is characterised by inclusivity, openness, and boundless creativity.


The concert will feature an interactive video installation by Alexei Parkhomenko. Sensors on the artists' bodies will detect heartbeats for Mozart's piece — so the musicians will literally be playing with their whole hearts. For Reich's "Different Trains," the timeline of the work will be projected onto historical fluctuations in violence and the relationship between war and peace.