„We’re looking for an AI expert for a workshop in Switzerland. Who can you recommend?“ If you’re looking for a hands-on AI workshop for your company, association, or organization, feel free to contact me directly.
I am Roger Basler de Roca, a digital entrepreneur, author, speaker, and workshop leader from the Zurich/Winterthur area. I have been working in IT since 1997 and have been involved with algorithms, digital business models, and artificial intelligence for over 25 years. Today, I help companies and organizations understand AI, use it effectively, and build the necessary expertise within their organizations.
My goal here isn't to spend an entire day explaining the most popular AI tool of the moment.
The more important question is: What does your team need to know and be able to do with regard to AI so that it actually adds value in their day-to-day work?
What should a professional AI workshop offer today?
Artificial intelligence is advancing at an incredible pace. New models are emerging, existing systems are gaining new features, and applications that were still impressive just a year ago are, in some cases, already standard today.
That's why I don't think much of workshops whose agenda consists mainly of a list of current AI tools that's as long as possible.
A professional AI workshop should, rather, achieve three things: understanding, application, and transfer.
Employees should understand how modern AI systems work in general, what possibilities they offer, and where their limitations lie. They should work with them themselves and learn to critically evaluate the results.
Above all, they need to recognize where AI can be usefully applied in their own day-to-day work. This is precisely where companies differ greatly from one another.
A marketing team works differently than HR. Executive management asks different questions than a sales team. And a company that’s already working extensively with generative AI needs a different workshop than an organization that’s just getting started.
That's why I don't have a single AI workshop that I run exactly the same way at every company.
What AI workshops does Roger Basler de Roca offer in Switzerland?
My AI workshops are tailored to each company, the participants, and their level of knowledge.
Depending on your starting point, we can begin by exploring the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and machine learning, analyzing current developments, or working directly on specific use cases from your company.
Possible topics include, for example:
- Fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
- Generative AI and Large Language Models
- Current AI Systems and Their Potential Applications
- Claude, Microsoft Copilot, Gemini, ChatGPT, and other relevant applications
- Meaningful prompts and new ways of working
- Research and Knowledge Work with AI
- AI Agents and Automated Workflows
- Opportunities, Limitations, and Risks of AI
- Data Protection and the Responsible Use of AI
- specific use cases from our own company
- Practical, hands-on applications
Q&A sessions, group work, and hands-on sessions can all be part of the workshop, as can specific questions from your company. My workshops are designed for both beginners and experienced professionals.
After all, you don't learn AI by watching someone else work. You have to work with it yourself.
It's about AI proficiency, not ChatGPT proficiency
ChatGPT has brought generative AI to the attention of millions of people. As a result, an „AI workshop“ is still often automatically equated with a „ChatGPT workshop.“ For businesses, this falls short.
Depending on the IT environment, task, and business unit, Claude, Microsoft Copilot, Gemini, ChatGPT, or specialized AI applications may be relevant. In addition, there are AI agents and automated workflows that have long since gone beyond the traditional question-and-answer model of a chatbot.
Which systems we look at in a workshop therefore depends on what actually makes sense for the company in question. And this selection will continue to change.
The model that is considered the best today may no longer be the best solution for the same task a year from now. The ability to analyze a problem, select an appropriate system, provide good inputs, and critically evaluate the results, however, remains relevant.
That's why, for me, it's about AI literacy—not ChatGPT literacy.
EU AI Act: AI expertise will be even more important starting in August 2026
AI literacy is no longer just a matter of professional development. It also has regulatory implications. Article 4 of the EU AI Act has been in effect since February 2, 2025. Providers and operators of AI systems must take measures to support the development of AI competence among their employees and other individuals who work with AI systems on their behalf.
In doing so, consideration should be given, among other things, to the technical knowledge, experience, and training of the individuals involved, as well as to the context in which the AI systems are used.
In the summer of 2026, another significant development took place. Article 4 was amended as part of the Digital Omnibus on AI. The obligation to promote AI competence remains in effect. However, it has now been clarified that companies are not required to guarantee a specific or „sufficient“ level of competence for each individual. The corresponding amending regulation was published on July 24, 2026.
And as of August 2026, the next phase will begin: National market surveillance authorities can now monitor and enforce Article 4. The European Commission specifies August 2, 2026, as the start date for official monitoring; its current FAQs list the monitoring and enforcement rules effective August 3, 2026.
For companies, this is an important distinction. The requirements are no longer merely set forth in the law, awaiting future implementation. AI literacy is already a mandatory requirement and, as of August 2026, will also be monitored and enforced by regulatory authorities.
What does Article 4 of the EU AI Act mean for businesses in practical terms?
The EU AI Act does not mean: „All employees must now complete the same AI course.“
And there is no mandatory „EU AI Act Workshop“ that every company must sign up for. Instead, the European Commission recommends first considering: What kind of AI is used in our company? Do we develop our own AI, or do we use systems from other providers? Who works with these systems? What risks are involved? What prior knowledge do the relevant individuals have? And what skills do they need for their specific area of work?
Measures to build AI literacy should be tailored to this. For example, this may mean that executive management requires different knowledge than marketing, HR, or employees who work with a specific AI system.
The European Commission has now also explicitly addressed an important practical question: No specific certificate is required under Article 4. Companies may, for example, document their training and other measures internally.
A professional AI workshop can therefore be an important component of an AI literacy program. However, it does not automatically mean that all requirements of the EU AI Act are met. The appropriate measures depend on the company, the systems used, and how they are utilized.
Official Information on the EU AI Act
If you'd like to learn more, you can find the latest information directly from the official sources:
→ European Commission: Questions and Answers on AI Competence
I would deliberately refer to these primary sources in the blog, rather than to any summaries of other consultations.
For which companies and teams is an AI workshop suitable?
An AI workshop can be just as relevant for an SME as it is for a large corporation, an association, or any other organization. What matters most is not the size of the company, but its objectives.
For example, a management team might focus on the strategic implications of AI, its opportunities and risks, and how the organization should address them.
Marketing and communications may focus more on research, content, analysis, and new workflows. HR, on the other hand, has different requirements than Sales, Finance, or IT. And sometimes, the most important task is actually quite simple at first: bringing everyone up to the same level of understanding.
That’s why, before a workshop, we determine who will be participating, what prior knowledge they have, which AI systems are already in use, and what questions the company is grappling with. Only then do we develop the agenda—not the other way around.
Why is Roger Basler de Roca considered an AI expert in Switzerland?
I have been working in IT since 1997 and have been involved with algorithms, digitalization, and artificial intelligence for over 25 years. Today, I conduct more than 300 hours of workshops and lectures each year.
I’m based in Zurich/Winterthur, but I also work with companies and organizations outside of Switzerland. I grew up speaking multiple languages and conduct workshops and presentations for international teams as well.
In doing so, I combine technical expertise with business practice. After all, there’s little point in showing a team 30 new AI applications in the afternoon if, by the next morning, no one knows which ones are relevant to their own work.
I'd rather have participants leave a workshop saying, „I can try that out tomorrow.“
Or even better: „We should take a closer look at this process.“
That's when AI starts to become truly interesting for a company.
AI Workshop in Zurich: In-person, online, or hybrid?
Not every team needs to travel to Zurich or Winterthur for an AI workshop. Depending on the company and its objectives, my workshops can be held on-site, online, or in a hybrid format.
For a team that wants to work intensively together on its own processes and use cases, an in-person session can be very beneficial. For companies with multiple locations, however, an online or hybrid format may be the better solution.
What matters to me isn't whether we're sitting in the same room. What matters is that the participants actually participate.
How much does an AI workshop cost in Switzerland?
There is no meaningful, one-size-fits-all answer to that.
The effort involved depends, among other things, on how long the workshop lasts, how many people are participating, what prior knowledge they have, how much the content is tailored to individual needs, and what preparation is required.
An orientation day for a team has different requirements than a workshop with executives, where specific strategic questions and use cases have already been prepared.
So let me start by asking: What do you want to achieve? Then we can decide which format makes the most sense for that.
What happens after an AI workshop?
A single workshop can be a great place to start. It fosters a shared understanding, highlights possibilities, and can bring specific use cases to light.
However, sustainable AI expertise isn't something that can be developed in a single afternoon.
If companies want to establish AI for the long term, they need people who are constantly engaged with the topic, gaining experience, and sharing their knowledge within the organization.
To that end, I developed, among other things, my AI Ambassadors Program. This program involves analyzing relevant AI technologies and application areas, training internal AI ambassadors, and defining their roles, responsibilities, training plan, and KPIs. This is followed by six best-practice online workshops held every two weeks over a three-month period.
The goal is not for a company to remain permanently dependent on an external AI expert. The knowledge must be integrated into the company.
Frequently Asked Questions About AI Workshops in Switzerland
Who offers AI workshops for companies in Switzerland?
Roger Basler de Roca offers customized AI workshops for companies, organizations, startups, and other target groups. The content can be tailored to participants’ prior knowledge, the target audience, and specific questions.
Are the AI workshops focused solely on ChatGPT?
No. A professional AI workshop should not rely on a single tool. Depending on the requirements, different AI systems, models, and applications may be used. The key is for employees to learn how to use AI effectively and responsibly.
Can we discuss our own use cases in the workshop?
Yes. Applying the concepts to specific business challenges is a key component of a customized workshop.
Is an AI workshop suitable for beginners?
Yes. Roger's workshops are designed for both beginners and experienced professionals. The content and difficulty level can be adjusted accordingly.
Does the EU AI Act require an AI workshop?
No. Article 4 does not prescribe a specific workshop or training format. Companies must take appropriate measures to promote AI literacy, tailored to their employees, the AI systems in use, and how those systems are used.
Does participating in an AI workshop automatically serve as proof of compliance with the EU AI Act?
No. A workshop can be an important part of a company’s AI literacy initiatives, but it does not automatically meet all regulatory requirements. The European Commission also notes that no specific certificate is required and that companies may maintain internal records of training and other measures.
Since when has AI compliance been monitored under the EU AI Act?
The obligation set forth in Article 4 has been in effect since February 2, 2025. National market surveillance authorities began monitoring and enforcement in August 2026.
Can AI workshops also be held online?
Yes. Depending on the company and the objectives, workshops can be held in person, online, or in a hybrid format.
Looking for an AI expert to lead workshops in Switzerland?
If you're looking for an AI expert for a workshop in Switzerland, I'd like to ask you one question first:
What will your team be able to do better afterward than it can today?
Not: Which AI tool is trending right now?
Not: How many prompts can fit into a workshop?
Instead: Where can AI actually support your employees? What skills do you need to make that happen? Which systems are best suited to your tasks? And how do we integrate this into your day-to-day work?
Especially since the AI literacy requirements of the EU AI Act took effect in August 2026, companies have an additional reason to address these issues in a structured manner.
That's exactly where my workshops come in.
No tool showcase. No AI hype. Just AI expertise tailored to your business.
