Last week, an inspiring keynote presentation took place as part of the „Meet and Learn“ event series organized by the IT Cluster of Central Germany. In a talk titled „WOW or WTF—How AI Really Takes Off in Business,“ our AI Lead, Dr. Danny Hucke, spoke about the practical application of artificial intelligence (AI) in software development.
His presentation focused on the question of how AI can not only be introduced but also embedded in the company for the long term. Our Xpert made it clear that technological expertise alone is not enough. Rather, it is crucial to actively involve employees and give them time to adapt—in other words, change management.
In the IT sector in particular, there’s a widespread belief that new technologies are adopted on their own. But even developers aren’t automatically eager to embrace innovation. Change takes time and understanding. The key is to highlight concrete benefits and create space for people to form their own experiences. At IT Sonix, we therefore focus specifically on small successes that create a tangible „WOW effect“—such as when an AI tool takes over tasks that, until recently, had to be done manually and laboriously.
For our software developers, this means a noticeable reduction in workload: less routine work, more focus on creative and strategic tasks. Productivity increases, and code quality improves. At the same time, we foster an open learning culture through training, internal presentations, and regular tool updates. In addition to JetBrains and Copilot assistants, we also use ChatGPT team licenses and Perplexity Business. In our own AI Circle, we continuously test new applications—together with our UX department, which is also actively evaluating new methods.
It’s important to find the right entry points: a tool, a specific use case that creates a real “aha” moment. Then it’s a matter of specifically supporting the enthusiasts and banking on a sort of butterfly effect. Three to five motivated people can get the ball rolling. Not everyone will jump on board right away, but those who are convinced will bring others along with them.
„The paradox is that, while you communicate with generative AI tools in natural language, it still takes hard work and experience to use these tools optimally and get the most out of them,“ Danny concluded.
In addition to providing insights on the topic, the event also offered opportunities for exchange and discussion. Many participants took the opportunity to share their own questions and experiences.
The bottom line: AI can only realize its full potential when it is not only implemented but also understood, experienced, and integrated into everyday life.
