Tourism Summit 2025

Gerhard Kürner

CEO
506.ai

Gerhard Kürner is founder and CEO of 506.ai. As a visionary thinker at the intersection of artificial intelligence, industrial transformation, and digital scaling, he is considered one of the defining voices for secure enterprise AI in the German-speaking world. With extensive experience in technology, go-to-market, and strategic business development, he helps companies rethink and evolve their business models through the use of AI. His career began in the 1990s with pioneering digital projects such as the introduction of CD-i and one of Austria's first streaming services. 

At voestalpine, he played a key role in shaping digital and cultural change as IT manager and head of communications for over 14 years, accompanying the group's growth from 3.6 to over 12 billion euros in sales to become a global technology brand. 

Since 2015, he has founded several companies in the fields of artificial intelligence, digital communication, and data-driven marketing. Thanks to his experience in technological innovation cycles and industrial change, he is considered a bridge builder between industry and modern AI infrastructure. 

In 2020, he launched 506.ai, a leading platform for secure, scalable, and independent enterprise AI. In 2023, he was elected Vice President of AI Upper Austria. As a thought leader, he regularly publishes articles on AI, economics, and technology policy in media outlets such as Profil and Trend