From AI Agents, the “Ick Factor,” and Sovereignty

On April 22, 2026, the fourth AI x Design Meetup took place. The event was organized by AIR Artificial Intelligence Regensburg, the Kreativbehörde Regensburg, and intive, and once again brought together experts and enthusiasts from the fields of artificial intelligence, design, and communication at Degginger.

The event centered on three presentations that explored different perspectives on the intersection of AI and design.

Emily Brummer, copywriter and brand strategist (Kookaburra Copy), explored how AI-generated content impacts brand communication and perception. In her presentation titled “Avoiding the ‘ick’ factor,” she highlighted positive examples as well as real-world cases that demonstrated the risks AI use can pose to authenticity and brand perception. Her presentation raised awareness of the importance of integrating AI into creative processes in a targeted and thoughtful manner.

Jens Rusitschka, AI-First Builder at kick & boost and organizer of the Claude Code Meetup in Munich, focused on the new roles of agents. He recommended using AI agents not just as tools for generation, but as independent systems in the design process. Through practical examples, he demonstrated how “AI doesn’t just build—it asks first.”

The session concluded with a presentation by Rinkesh Sharma, Sales Engineer for Security & Compliance at Google. His presentation focused on the growing importance of digital sovereignty in the context of increasing AI applications. In particular, the development of AI systems in sovereign environments was highlighted as a key driver.

Afterward, the guests wrapped up the evening with lively conversation over pinsa. DJ Jan Stricker, a designer himself, once again provided the musical setting for the networking portion of the event.

>>> Save the Date: The date for the next event has already been set. AI x Design Meetup Vol. 5 will take place on Friday, September 25, 2026, as a special edition on AI Day.