"I’m here to give artisans a voice, and show how digitalisation is reshaping skilled trades." - Carmen Kieffer

Carmen Kieffer leads the Service eHandwierk and is a passionate advocate for Luxembourg’s skilled craft sector and the digital transformation of enterprises. She will join the conversation on the "Democratisation of Cybersecurity" to ensure that artisans, often overlooked in mainstream tech spaces, have a visible voice in the future of innovation. With a focus on practical applications of emerging technologies, Carmen envisions a future where even the smallest workshops are empowered by smart, AR-driven tools. She shared her insights on the current tech gaps, the everyday problems AI could soon solve, and why making technology accessible to all industries is more urgent than ever.

Carmen Kieffer

1. That inspired you to join Nexus Luxembourg for its second edition? 

I was motivated to join the second edition of Nexus Luxembourg because trade fairs so often cater to large corporations, startups, and tech players—leaving small and medium-sized skilled craft companies on the sidelines. By taking part this year, I aim to give these artisans a visible voice: to showcase their digitalisation journeys and highlight the vital role they play in Luxembourg’s economy.

2. What’s one tech prediction for the future that sounds crazy, but you believe in?

One crazy prediction I’m convinced will come true in the next decade is that even the smallest Luxembourgish skilled craft companies will be using augmented-reality–driven smart assistants to guide them through every stage of their work. Imagine lightweight AR glasses that overlay precise cutting lines, drill-bit trajectories or other instructions directly onto their workpiece. That same system could flag when a tool is about to wear out or suggest the optimal sequence of operations for a complex design.

3. What’s one thing tech still hasn’t fixed that it should have by now?

One thing technology still hasn’t nailed—despite decades of effort—is seamless, natural communication between humans and machines. It’s remarkable and often frustrating that our “smart” devices and AI assistants still struggle to grasp what we really mean. They mishear us, misinterpret our intent, and lack the contextual awareness that comes so effortlessly to another person.

Whether you’re asking a voice assistant to adjust your thermostat, dictating a quick email, or querying a chatbot for help, you frequently have to simplify your phrasing or repeat yourself just to get a basic task done.

By now, we should have systems that:

—> Understand context and nuance: Remembering earlier parts of a conversation, recognizing your personal preferences, and disambiguating vague requests without constant clarification.

—> Handle conversational flow: Picking up on follow-up questions (“And what about this?”) or corrections (“No, I meant tomorrow, not today”) without resetting the dialogue.

—> Read tone and emotion: Sensing frustration, urgency or politeness in our voice or text, and adapting their responses accordingly.

4. If AI could help with one everyday task, what should it be?

An AI-powered assistant that handles the everyday admin chores most people dread—namely, client communications, scheduling and follow-ups.

—> Inbox triage & response: It reads incoming emails, WhatsApp or Messenger requests, extracts key details (project type, size, deadline, etc.) and drafts a polite, personalised reply—answering FAQs, requesting missing information, or passing urgent messages straight to you.

—> Smart appointment booking: By syncing with your calendar, it proposes available slots, confirms bookings automatically, and sends reminders to both you and your meeting partner—slashing no-shows and last-minute rescheduling headaches.

—> Automated quotes & reminders: Drawing on your standard rates, materials costs and past projects, it generates tailored quotes in seconds, emails them to clients, and pings you if a quote remains unsigned or an invoice unpaid.

Freed from inbox overload and juggling dates, companies could reclaim hours each week—time better spent doing things people are passionate about.

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We look forward to hearing Carmen’s contribution to the panel discussion on the “Democratisation of Cybersecurity” and exploring how digital inclusion can protect and empower all sectors of the economy.