Through initiatives such as “100 Minutes of IT,” the Baden-Württemberg AI Alliance and the Baden-Württemberg Women and Work Contact Centers aim to help women understand artificial intelligence and actively apply it in their daily work lives
Some people try out new AI applications every day, while others deliberately keep their distance. In between are many people who sense that the world of work and society are changing, but who are primarily looking for guidance on how to deal with artificial intelligence. Women, in particular, often experience these changes in the labor market very directly, whether through new demands, digital upheavals, or the question of what role they can play in an increasingly AI-driven world of work.
For Milena Stegner, this is precisely where guidance becomes crucial. As a research assistant at DHBW Heilbronn and a member of the AI Campus, she has spent several years exploring how people can develop a clear and thoughtful understanding of AI, regardless of whether they have a technical background or not. Through her company “AIdeas,” she teaches generative AI in workshops, lectures, and training sessions for educators, women, and businesses. Her goal: to empower people not only to consume technological developments but also to actively help shape them.
From the Classroom to the World of AI
Yet her own journey did not originally begin in computer science, but in the classroom. Stegner initially worked as a high school teacher of English, politics, philosophy, and ethics. After some time, she discovered the AI Campus, took her first courses, and began to explore the social implications of AI in greater depth. Today, she is pursuing her Ph.D. at the University of Freiburg in the field of AI and ethics, researching, among other things, the potential effects of AI chatbots on young people.
“Many people are currently torn between feeling overwhelmed and harboring an unfounded fear of AI. Yet we’ve been using AI systems in our daily lives for a long time, often without even realizing it,” says Stegner. “Unfounded fears often obscure the problems we can and must actually address.” What matters, therefore, is not just access to technology, but above all the ability to contextualize and critically evaluate developments. She sees this, in particular, as a key skill for the future.
© User Experience University of Applied Sciences Aalen | Myra Baumgärtner
Why many people can't get started
In her work, she repeatedly finds that people without a technical background, in particular, are very interested in AI, but often don’t know where to start. “The biggest hurdle is often not the technology itself, but the sheer number of tools, information, and expectations. Many people think first of specific applications, even though the more important question is actually: Where can AI meaningfully support my own daily work?”
For the doctoral candidate, therefore, the goal is not to show people as many tools as possible, but rather to provide them with guidance and help them overcome their reservations. At the same time, she says, it is important not to ignore the societal implications of AI. “We need more people who can contribute to the conversation and critically monitor these developments. Women, in particular, should not just observe these changes, but actively help shape them.”
Practical applications and guidance for everyday work life on “100 Minutes of IT”
This is exactly where the online event “100 Minutes of IT” comes in; it will take place on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at 5 p.m. Together with speaker Milena Stegner, the AI Alliance Baden-Württemberg and the Women and Work Contact Centers Baden-Württemberg aim to help women understand AI and learn about specific ways it can be applied. The focus will be on everyday applications in communication, organization, data analysis, and professional independence, as well as the question of which skills will be important in the future.
The event is aimed specifically at women who are looking to change careers, further their professional development, or gain their first exposure to AI, even without a technical background. In addition to concrete examples and applications, free training opportunities will also be presented. The goal is to encourage women to actively engage with technological developments and recognize the opportunities they have to shape their own futures.
The AI Alliance Baden-Württemberg, in collaboration with regional partners in the Ostalbkreis district, is focusing on building AI expertise and strengthening the skills of professionals in the use of digital technologies. Initiatives such as “100 Minutes of IT” are designed to help guide people early on and support them in actively shaping technological developments.
Event Registration
100 Minutes of IT – Tuesday, July 14, 2026, 5:00 p.m. to 6:40 p.m., online and free of charge.