Press maker Koenig & Bauer has launched a programme under which employees will gain access to targeted training and advanced AI tools, with ‘AI champions’ acting as multipliers.

The Empower 25 programme is designed to grow AI tech integration and provide employees with a unique training approach.

As part of a partnership with Google, the company is providing teams with a range of AI tools including AI assistant Gemini App, NotebookLM Plus and Google Vids for AI-supported video creation.

Under the motto ‘The power is you’, a decentralised training approach will see executives and selected AI champions from around the world receive intensive training and will act as multipliers and first points of contact for their colleagues.

The AI tools are already available to all employees to gain early experience and benefit. Further training opportunities will follow. As an incentive, an AI Award will be presented in December to honour creative use of the new tools and the development of solutions to improve daily work.

“Once again demonstrating our pioneering spirit,” says chief executive Stephen Kimmich. “We are convinced that the successful integration of AI not only increases efficiency and productivity but also sustainably strengthens our company’s innovative power.”

Koenig & Bauer says it is also investing externally, including the Kyana business unit spun off from the group's digital unit in April, which focusses on developing digital business models as well as AI and data-based solutions through the lifecycle of print products.