The Swiss AI Podcast: Strategic AI Orientation for the C-Suite
In short
The Swiss AI Podcast is the leading German-language audio format for strategic decision-makers: hosted and produced by Bernd Schmellenkamp (Senior Content Consultant, journalist since 1986) and Chris Jon Graf (AI Strategist, CEO of KI-Outsourcing.ch), the podcast has delivered over 35 episodes since August 2024, providing boards, CEOs and managing directors with actionable AI orientation.
The Swiss AI Podcast is the leading German-language audio format for strategic decision-makers. Hosted and produced by Bernd Schmellenkamp and Chris Jon Graf, the podcast has delivered over 35 episodes since August 2024 — providing boards, CEOs and managing directors of Swiss SMEs with condensed, directly applicable leadership knowledge on AI strategy.
- Launch
- August 2024
- Episodes (as of 2025)
- 35+
- Hosts
- Bernd Schmellenkamp & Chris Jon Graf
- Target audience
- CEO, CFO, board members, C-level Swiss SMEs
- Format
- Expert interviews, strategy conversations
- Available on
- Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, ki-podcast.ch
- Language
- German
Why executives need a strategic AI compass today
AI transformation is advancing at a pace that overwhelms traditional learning formats. Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis captured the dynamic precisely at the third global AI Summit: the current AI development represents an industrial revolution with ten times the impact in one tenth of the time. For Swiss executives, this means: those who opt for ‘wait and see’ today will lose their competitive edge tomorrow.
At the same time, there is a lack of precise information sources tailored to the executive level. Trade media writes for developers, social media channels produce hype. The Swiss AI Podcast closes this gap — hosted and produced by Bernd Schmellenkamp and Chris Jon Graf: condensed, strategically actionable knowledge for the C-suite.
The Hosts: Journalistic Depth Meets Strategic AI Expertise
Bernd Schmellenkamp — Senior Content Consultant and Veteran Journalist
Bernd Schmellenkamp has been working as a journalist, editor and author since 1986 — across print, radio, television and online media. He served as editor-in-chief and programme director at TV and radio stations, built media projects as agency founder and managing director, and today works as a Senior Content Consultant and Content Trust Expert. As author of the standard reference ‘Die 150 besten Hotels der Schweiz’ and a contributor to ‘DER FEINSCHMECKER’, he brings a unique combination of Swiss expertise, journalistic craft and storytelling competence.
In the podcast, Schmellenkamp applies his decades of experience as a TV host, news anchor and social audio moderator: he conducts conversations with the precision of a seasoned interviewer — on point, without digressions, with a clear focus on strategic value for listeners. His subject areas span business, communications, media, luxury hotels, travel and artificial intelligence.
Chris Jon Graf — AI Strategist and Trusted Advisor to Leadership
Chris Jon Graf is an AI strategist, CEO of KI-Outsourcing.ch and a strategic sparring partner for C-level executives. He does not see himself as a conventional consultant delivering standard solutions, but as a discreet trusted advisor for executives navigating the constant tension between strategic vision, operational density and technological evolution.
Graf’s maxim: true sovereignty emerges when thinking, language and technology enter into symbiosis. AI is not integrated as a fashionable imperative, but as a precision instrument — with the goal of deliberately slowing down decision-making processes and sharpening the capacity for action. In the podcast, he translates this philosophy into concrete, actionable impulses for decision-makers.
- Strategic sparring (clarity): A discreet resonance space for radical intellectual honesty — diffuse complexity is transformed into a clear architecture of priorities.
- AI & Leadership Architecture (sovereignty): From individual AI strategy to automated workflows — so technology serves as a tool, not a driving force.
- Communication with impact (power): Using NLP and systemic thinking to sharpen messages that create internal orientation and build external trust.
Format and Content: What Executives Can Expect
Since launching in August 2024, over 35 episodes have been released. Each episode upholds the same quality promise: no technical lectures, no superficial trends — substantive conversations with practitioners who know AI from the inside.
Past guests include Ralf Blaschke and Dennis Hammer from Accenture — one of the world’s leading AI consultancies — researchers from ETH Zurich, and executives from media companies such as Funke Mediengruppe. Topics range from AI governance and the EU AI Act to the deployment of AI agents in enterprise settings and the geopolitical implications of global AI development.
Relevance for Swiss Decision-Makers: Data and Context
Switzerland is better positioned in the global AI competition than its own awareness might suggest: with over 110 AI researchers per 100,000 inhabitants, it ranks first globally (IMD World Competitiveness Center, 2024). At the same time, the World Economic Forum (WEF, 2025) warns that up to 85 million roles could be transformed or displaced by automation by 2030 — a significant share in Swiss knowledge work.
For boards and CEOs, AI is therefore no longer optional — it is a leadership responsibility. The Swiss AI Podcast provides the foundation for discharging that responsibility in an informed manner: without hype, without alarm, with Swiss precision — concise, discreet, substantive.
How to Listen to the Swiss AI Podcast
The podcast is available on all major platforms: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and directly at ki-podcast.ch. New episodes are released regularly; the existing archive of over 35 episodes serves as a reference library for strategic AI questions. Subscribe on your preferred platform to stay current.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the Swiss AI Podcast and who is it for?
- The Swiss AI Podcast (ki-podcast.ch) is a professional audio format for strategic decision-makers — board members, CEOs and managing directors of Swiss SMEs. Hosted and produced by Bernd Schmellenkamp and Chris Jon Graf, each episode explores relevant AI topics with high-calibre guests from research, business and consulting. The goal is not a technical introduction, but strategic orientation at the leadership level.
- Who is Bernd Schmellenkamp and what does he bring to the podcast?
- Bernd Schmellenkamp is a Senior Content Consultant and journalist since 1986, active across print, radio, TV and online media. He served as editor-in-chief and programme director at broadcasting stations and is today a Content Trust Expert. As author of ‘Die 150 besten Hotels der Schweiz’ and a contributor to ‘DER FEINSCHMECKER’, he brings deep Swiss expertise and journalistic craft. In the podcast he leads conversations with the precision of a seasoned interviewer — structured, on point, always focused on the strategic takeaway for listeners.
- Who is Chris Jon Graf and what does he contribute as host?
- Chris Jon Graf is an AI strategist and CEO of KI-Outsourcing.ch. He positions himself not as a conventional consultant but as a discreet trusted advisor and strategic sparring partner for C-level executives. His maxim: true sovereignty emerges when thinking, language and technology enter into symbiosis. In the podcast he translates complex AI developments into concrete leadership decisions, ensuring every episode closes with a clear, actionable recommendation for the C-suite.
- What topics does the podcast cover?
- The Swiss AI Podcast covers the full spectrum of strategic AI questions: AI governance and compliance (EU AI Act, Swiss revFADP), the deployment of AI agents in business processes, implementation experiences from Swiss SMEs, global developments (Davos, global AI summits) and the human leadership dimension in the AI age. Guests from Accenture, ETH Zurich and media groups like Funke Mediengruppe have already shared their perspectives.
- What sets the Swiss AI Podcast apart from other AI podcasts?
- The podcast is explicitly designed for the boardroom, not for developers or AI enthusiasts. Bernd Schmellenkamp’s decades of experience as a journalist, TV host and editor-in-chief ensure clear, precise conversations without jargon. Chris Jon Graf’s role as AI advisor and trusted confidant to executives provides the strategic depth: every episode is framed around which decisions leaders need to make now, not which technology is currently trending.
- Where can I listen to the Swiss AI Podcast?
- The Swiss AI Podcast is available on all major platforms — including Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts — as well as directly at ki-podcast.ch. Since its launch in August 2024, new episodes appear regularly; with over 35 episodes, a consistent and growing archive serves as a reference library for executives.
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