Trustworthy AI for Critical Systems
with Marko Erman, Chief Scientific Officer at Thales
On November 6, 2025, the French Tech Zagreb hosted an exclusive session featuring Marko Erman, Chief Scientific Officer at Thales, who shared insights on the challenges and opportunities of AI development in Europe, with a focus on building trustworthy AI for mission-critical systems.
Watch the Full Session
About the Speaker
Marko Erman serves as Chief Scientific Officer at Thales, one of Europe's leading technology companies specializing in aerospace, defense, transportation, and security. With decades of experience at the forefront of technological innovation, Erman brings unique insights into how AI is transforming mission-critical industries.
Key Insights
The session explored the critical challenges and opportunities that Artificial Intelligence presents for Europe. Erman emphasized that Europe has a unique opportunity to lead in trustworthy AI development—not by copying existing approaches, but by inventing new ways of building AI systems.
"AI is Europe's priority and opportunity. It is a game changer for mission-critical systems."
A central theme of the presentation was the concept of "AI by Design"—the idea that, like cybersecurity, AI must be integrated into systems from the initial design phase, not added as an afterthought. This approach is essential for building the trustworthy, explainable AI systems that critical infrastructure demands.
Key Takeaways
- AI is Europe's priority and opportunity — Europe can lead in developing AI that meets higher standards of trust and accountability
- AI is a game changer for mission-critical systems — From aviation to defense, AI is transforming how critical systems operate
- It's not about reusing existing AI — Europe should focus on inventing new approaches suited to its values and requirements
- AI by Design — Like cybersecurity, AI must be part of the initial system design, not bolted on later
- It's a system, not just an algorithm — Trustworthy AI requires thinking holistically about the entire system
A Bridge Between Ecosystems
This event exemplified the French Tech Zagreb's mission to connect French and Croatian tech ecosystems. By bringing a leader from one of France's most innovative companies to Zagreb, we created an opportunity for knowledge exchange and potential collaboration between Croatian tech talent and French industrial expertise.
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What's Next
This speaker series event demonstrates our commitment to bringing world-class expertise to the Croatian tech community. Stay connected for upcoming events featuring leaders from across the French and European tech ecosystems.
Interested in hosting a session or speaking at a future event? Get in touch.
