Christian Gleich interviewed by Henzelene Healley at the ABC Conclave held at So/ Uptown in Dubai
“From revolutionizing education to safeguarding elections, Christian Gleich explores how AI and blockchain are reshaping industries and ensuring trust in a digital age.”
In a recent conversation with Christian Gleich, International Ambassador of the European Blockchain Association and Managing Partner of Atlas Labs Ventures, we delved into the transformative role of AI, blockchain, and governance technologies in industries ranging from education to democratic systems.
See full interview: https://youtu.be/V99Tn9dYtpY
AI in Education: Tackling Teacher Burnout
One of the innovations Christian is particularly excited about is an AI-driven education platform called Tutor with AI. The platform is designed to address the growing administrative burden that teachers face, a problem highlighted by a United Nations study revealing that 40% of teachers are either burnt out or on the verge of burnout. “What we built is a customized GPT for teachers, but we don’t just feed general data into the AI. We pre-feed it with the curriculums being taught, ensuring that teachers are working with a trustworthy source,” Christian explained.
He emphasized the platform’s ease of use, noting that teachers love its intuitive design. “They don’t even need to learn how to prompt the AI,” he said. “The system allows them to click on modules like the subject, class, and task they need, and the AI does the rest—automating lesson preparation and administrative tasks, like creating tests.” This level of automation allows educators to focus more on teaching rather than paperwork, contributing to a better work-life balance for many in the profession.
AI’s Versatility: Extending Beyond Education
Christian believes the AI-driven solution that Tutor with AI offers has applications far beyond education. “This kind of technology can be adapted for lawyers, agencies, and various other professionals who struggle with administrative tasks,” he said. The modular approach, which enables users to easily generate complex prompts without mastering new technical skills, could streamline workflows in numerous industries.
He highlighted how AI’s potential is vast but underutilized, particularly in sectors like government and law. “As regulators start defining how AI should be used in these fields, it’s important that we offer solutions that don’t just serve the present but anticipate future needs,” he added.
Challenges in AI: The Bias Problem
Despite the potential, AI faces significant challenges, particularly when it comes to bias in data and systems. “You see a lot of examples of AI models delivering biased results. One example was someone trying to generate an image of an Indian astronaut using an AI image generator, and the model produced only images of white people,” Christian recalled, emphasizing that this kind of bias undermines trust in AI systems.
The risks extend beyond everyday tasks. Christian warned about the dangers of AI tools being misused for malicious purposes. “In certain research, AI models have been pushed to come up with ways to harm humanity. The guardrails and regulations must ensure that these systems refuse to engage in harmful activities or provide dangerous information,” he stressed. This highlights the urgent need for thoughtful and effective regulation of AI technology, particularly as it becomes more ingrained in society.
Blockchain for Governance: Ensuring Trust in Elections
In addition to AI, Christian shared his insights on how blockchain technology could address issues of trust and transparency in democratic elections. He pointed to the recurring controversies in the U.S. about election integrity, including claims of fake ballots and multiple votes from the same individuals, even deceased voters. “It baffles me that in 2024, with all the technology we have, these issues still exist,” he remarked.
Christian believes that blockchain, combined with AI, could provide a solution to these problems. “If you used an AI-driven governance model on the blockchain, you could easily ensure the integrity of elections,” he explained. “Once you’ve voted, that’s counted, and you can’t vote again. It’s that simple, and it’s already being done in other governance models like DAOs (Decentralized Autonomous Organizations).”
He elaborated on how the system could work: “People wouldn’t need to understand all the complexities of blockchain technology. They could simply use a physical card that gets scanned and activated. If they try to vote again, the system would reject it.” According to Christian, this type of system would greatly enhance trust in electoral processes, eliminating the possibility of fraudulent votes and ensuring that every vote counts—accurately and transparently.
The Intersection of AI, Blockchain, and Family Affairs
In a lighter yet equally profound part of the conversation, Christian talked about the broader applications of blockchain technology, even in family settings. “You could make kids believe and experience what the blockchain is,” he said, explaining that blockchain’s immutable ledger could serve as a learning tool for future generations. “The blockchain is always right because it’s on a list; it’s a verification system,” he added, noting that the technology has multiple use cases beyond what people traditionally think of.
The possibilities for blockchain in everyday life are endless. Whether it’s ensuring fair elections or teaching children about technology, Christian believes that blockchain’s reliability and transparency will make it a cornerstone of future governance systems and educational tools.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Emerging Technologies
Christian’s journey into AI and blockchain began with his curiosity about new technologies and a desire to merge innovative solutions. “I’ve always been interested in how technologies like AI and blockchain can come together,” he said. Over the years, this curiosity has driven him to explore these fields deeply, culminating in his current work, which pushes the boundaries of what’s possible with emerging technologies.
As Christian continues to advocate for the convergence of AI, blockchain, and other technologies like robotics, his forward-thinking approach places Atlas Labs Ventures at the forefront of this technological revolution. From addressing teacher burnout to ensuring the integrity of elections, his work exemplifies how cutting-edge technologies can create real-world solutions to pressing global challenges.
“AI and blockchain aren’t just buzzwords,” Christian concluded. “They are tools that can shape a better, more transparent, and efficient future. But we need to ensure that as we innovate, we do so responsibly, with the right safeguards in place.”
