Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly moving beyond experimentation to deliver measurable outcomes across business, communication and public services, a trend highlighted at the AI Communication Award 2026. Presented during the Social Media Days in Germany, hosted by Ziehl-Abegg, the awards honoured five pioneering projects that showcased practical applications of AI across corporate communications, customer engagement, privacy, automation and digital transformation.
This year’s awards attracted 29 entries from companies, universities and public institutions, reflecting the growing adoption of AI-driven solutions across multiple industries. The winning initiatives demonstrated how emerging technologies can improve operational efficiency, enhance communication, strengthen data security and address complex societal challenges while maintaining responsible and ethical standards.
Commenting on the occasion, Joachim Ley, Chief Executive Officer of Ziehl-Abegg, said, “Discussions around artificial intelligence often focus on future possibilities. However, organisations are already creating measurable business value through practical AI applications today. The AI Communication Award recognises projects that combine innovation with responsibility and deliver tangible benefits.”
The awards were presented under the patronage of Dr Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, Minister for Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism of the German state of Baden-Württemberg. Winners were selected by an independent jury comprising experts from academia, artificial intelligence, corporate communications and marketing. The panel was jointly chaired by AI entrepreneur Joe Keller and Professor Daniel Werth of TU Dresden.
In the AI-Powered Campaigns and Storytelling category, Eternos.Life and MSL Germany received top honours for Michael Bommer Makes Himself Immortal, a project that created a digital twin of a terminally ill individual to preserve his memories, voice and personal experiences for future generations. The jury recognised the initiative for combining technological innovation with thoughtful consideration of ethical issues surrounding identity and remembrance.
EY Austria won the Internal Communications, HR and Employee Experience category for its Deepfake with Depth campaign, which successfully used AI-generated content to improve employee engagement and cyber security awareness. In the AI Strategy, Analytics and Agents in Communication category, ControlExpert was recognised for ClaimsPilot, an AI-powered platform that automates the insurance claims process using autonomous AI agents to improve efficiency and customer experience.
The Tools, Platforms and Infrastructure for Communication award went to Thomas Friese for the MetaCompass Assistant Factory, a platform enabling organisations to develop and operate advanced AI systems while maintaining complete control over their data and digital infrastructure. The Students and Young Talent award was presented to Johannes Störlein of Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg for developing a fully local, GDPR-compliant AI application that streamlines interview documentation for family law assessments while protecting sensitive personal information.
Now in its third year, the AI Communication Award continues to highlight practical AI solutions that create meaningful impact across industries. Organisers said the initiative aims to encourage knowledge sharing between businesses, academic institutions and technology leaders while promoting responsible innovation that addresses real-world challenges through artificial intelligence.
