Reading & Talk: Markus Orths on AI and Society
- 30.06.2026
- Practical Project
After the reading by Markus Orths (first from right), guests from AI-related fields discussed the opportunities and risks of AI and culture.
Where literature meets the debate about the future: In early June 2026, Markus Orths read from Die Enthusiasten at FH Kufstein Tirol. In the discussion that followed, experts and guests explored how AI is reshaping art, culture, and society — highlighting both its opportunities and its risks.
Literature and emerging technologies took center stage at a special evening event held at FH Kufstein Tirol on June 1, 2026. As part of the practical project Reading & Talk: AI & Culture – Opportunities & Risks, author Markus Orths read from his current novel Die Enthusiasten, providing the starting point for exchange, networking, and reflection.
The reading was followed by a panel discussion featuring guests from a range of professional backgrounds. Together, they discussed how artificial intelligence is changing culture, art, and society, as well as the opportunities and challenges that come with these developments.
Students in the part-time master’s program in Sports, Culture & Event Management organized the reading with Markus Orths and facilitated an exchange of diverse perspectives.
The project was designed and carried out by students in the part-time master’s degree program in Sports, Culture & Event Management. Its goal was to shed light on artificial intelligence as a highly relevant social issue from multiple perspectives and to encourage public discussion. “Bringing literature together with social discourse creates space for new ways of thinking about how we engage with artificial intelligence,” the project team said, proud of the depth and quality of the event.
Literature Meets Social Questions
At the heart of the evening was the reading by Markus Orths. The German author traveled from Karlsruhe to present excerpts from his current novel Die Enthusiasten. In the book, Orths combines an adventurous hunt for a valuable manuscript with an eccentric family story shaped by experimental film, wordplay, and research — creating a literary starting point for the subsequent discussion about creativity, technology, and the role of AI.
As a special addition, Orths also read from his narrative essay Die Vereinnahmung. In it, he invites readers to reflect on the ways art might be appropriated by generative artificial intelligence.
One of the event’s greatest strengths was the variety of perspectives brought to the discussion. Moderator Prof. Dr. Agnes Bidmon (Cultural Studies & Cultural Management, FH Kufstein Tirol) emphasized that human beings are both especially vulnerable to these developments and, at the same time, have the capacity to actively shape how they are handled. Maria Reitberger, MA (Cultural Affairs Officer, City of Kufstein) built on this by focusing on human creativity in artistic work. Dr. Thomas Bertagnolli (Academic Director, Museum Tiroler Bauernhöfe Kramsach) highlighted the benefits AI technologies can offer as forms of digital assistance. Prof. Uwe Heil (International Business, FH Kufstein Tirol) and Rector PD Dr. Mario Döller (FH Kufstein Tirol) also addressed the practical applicability of AI from economic and information technology perspectives, stressing that critical thinking and users’ independence remain essential skills when deciding how and when to use AI-supported technologies.
Building Bridges Between Academia, Culture, and the Public
The discussion did not end on stage. During the breaks and around the book table, many conversations continued among audience members about AI, culture, and social change, as well as how participants personally perceive these developments.
The evening concluded with an informal gathering in a relaxed atmosphere, featuring regional snacks and desserts prepared by the project team, along with non-alcoholic lemonades from Bierapotheke Hopfgarten im Brixental.
The event was supported by numerous regional sponsors, including Buch Café Kufstein, EasyStaff, Sparkasse Kufstein, and the Student Union at FH Kufstein Tirol. The recognition by Green Events Tirol is seen by the project team as both an incentive and a point of reference for future events in this format.
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