Exchange and 3D video conferencing: Google opens AI Center in Berlin

Scientists, businesses, startups, and Google are to come together in the AI Center. To this end, Google has converted parts of its Berlin office building. Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger, Berlin's Mayor Kai Wegner, and of course Google representatives for the German-speaking region will be present for the opening. But Jakob Uszkoreit, a Google researcher, will also be there. He worked on the well-known Transformer paper, which is considered the basis of current generative AI applications. In addition, Google is showcasing Project Beam in Germany for the first time – video conferencing software with a wow factor.

A US team, along with extensive equipment, traveled specifically to present the project. Beam stands for – it's safe to say – beaming into the future. Two cabins are available, each equipped with a large screen. Six cameras are embedded in the frame. They capture images, which are then combined by AI into a 3D image shown on the respective other screen. Or, to put it more simply, instead of 2D video conferencing, you can now virtually shake hands with someone in 3D and give them a high-five.

This appears surreal and real at the same time. When you high-five, the other person's hand turns blue upon virtual contact. And even though your own hand is in empty space, you get the feeling that the touch just tingled. The wall or an embedded background appears with significantly more depth than the other person's head. The contours, including hair, are very clearly defined – unlike in many other video conferences where hair and embedded backgrounds tend to flicker.

This future of video conferencing, however, also comes at a hefty price of 25,000 euros per cabin, including the screen and camera system. Since you need at least two, that's 50,000 euros right away. And no more than three people can participate. Nevertheless, there will surely be some customers. Google is bringing Project Beam to Germany this year.

AI Center for Cooperations and Events

The test station will be dismantled again soon, however. This also applies to some interactive AI stations set up for the opening of the AI Center. Otto shows how Gemini in the app can help with purchasing decisions – you can ask the assistant for suitable products via text or voice. The Düsseldorf fire department has calculated locations and routes with Google to enable ideal response. There is Google gadgetry like photo booths or puzzles about fake images.

The Technical University of Munich and the Helmholtz Institute present AlphaFold. This is a neural network of transformers, largely developed by Google's DeepMind, that can recognize protein structures. It received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2024 for this.

Google wants to initiate many more such practical and award-winning collaborations in its new AI Center. Berlin's Mayor, Kai Wegner, is there to emphasize that he wants to make Berlin the “number one startup location in Europe.” Google is an important partner. A website will be set up for visits and events at the AI Center.

Karsten Wildberger also speaks about the necessary innovative strength. However, he doesn't completely lose sight of regulation. It is, however, “too complex.” While safety should always take precedence, some problems only become apparent through usage patterns. New mechanisms are needed to react to them.

This is also the theme of a panel discussion with scientists. An initial discussion in the AI Center, which many similar ones are to follow. Everyone agrees that AI will advance science. But: Here too, new ways must be found to deal with the results. Science fundamentally questions things, says Alena Buyx from TUM, which is often different in society. She compares AI to operations. In the past, people always had to be cut open. Then came non-invasive procedures. But since these are sometimes not sufficient, all surgeons must still know how to cut a person open – if necessary, rapidly.

(emw)