AI Evening: Sustainable Behavior? What really works, what fizzles out. Insights into Psychology & Behavioral Economics

Name: AI Evening: Sustainable Behavior? What really works, what fizzles out. Insights into Psychology & Behavioral Economics
Start: 2026-10-07T18:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-10-07T20:00:00+02:00
Location: Digital City Studio – Digitales Stadtlabor Linz

Wednesday 7 October · 18:00Digital City Studio – Digitales Stadtlabor Linz

What's it about?

The monthly AI Evening of IT:U at the Digital City Studio - this time on the topic of Sustainable Behavior: There are many symbolic gestures – but which measures actually lead to more sustainability? And why do many well-intentioned actions have little effect in practice, while instruments like the CO₂ tax are enormous levers once their functionality is understood? In a relaxed atmosphere, we will dedicate ourselves to current scientific findings, impact analyses, and the psychological mechanisms behind our consumption and decision-making behavior, as well as how AI supports this. The focus will be on questions such as: What do scientific impact analyses show: Which measures bring real change and what is mere window dressing? Why is sustainable behavior psychologically so difficult for us – even if we want it? Why are economic steering instruments (like CO₂ taxes) so effective once you understand the mechanics behind them? What contribution do data and AI analyses make to creating effective framework conditions? The evening critically categorizes research and scientific facts within social and economic contexts. After an impulse from Prof. Elisabeth Gsottbauer, we will start a short lightning exchange with your seat neighbors and sharpen the questions for the subsequent joint discussion. Afterwards, there will be an opportunity for informal exchange in personal conversation. In addition, various digital technologies such as VR glasses, robot dog, or the AR sandbox can be tried out. About the researcher / person: Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Gsottbauer is a Professor of AI & Machine Learning-Based Sustainability Policy at IT:U (Interdisciplinary Transformation University Austria). As an environmental and behavioral economist, she has been researching for years how people make actual decisions in environmental protection and why there is often a gap between green knowledge and real action. In her research, she combines behavioral sciences with machine learning: She investigates how AI-supported tools and data models can help develop effective sustainability measures. Through real experiments, she tests which incentives and behavioral nudges really work in practice – She is the expert for the question of our evening: What really works? DO YOU WANT MORE OFFERS FROM IT:U IN THE DIGITAL CITY STUDIO? AI Evenings: Every first Wednesday of the month at 6:00 PM, a scientific impulse & discussion with professors and scientists from IT:U awaits you. Sept. - AI Evening: Human or AI Agent, who decides? - with Prof. Philipp Wintersberger Oct. - AI Evening: Sustainable Behavior? What really works, what fizzles out. Insights into Psychology & Behavioral Economics - with Prof. Elisabeth Gsottbauer Nov. - AI Evening: Cybersecurity in everyday life – Protection against AI fraud, deepfakes & trickery - with Prof. Johanna Ullrich Dec. - AI Evening: Chatting with AI & Algorithms – When AI becomes a relationship case - with technology philosopher Dr. Christoph Hubatschke Free workshops for school classes and groups: bookable at: https://it-u.at/de/digitalstadtstudio/workshops/ 02.09. - 9:30 AM-12 PM: Hands-on workshop in the Digital City Studio: Measure your environment! for kids (with or without parents) with Lucia Schramm-Kaineder 28.09. - 6-9 PM: Open Workshop: Quantum computers for beginners with Prof. Beatrix Hiesmayr Touch & Try: Experience technology and research - Come by during IT:U @ DCS opening hours: Mon-Fri: 9 AM-12 PM or by appointment Fri, 23.10. - 11 AM-12 PM: Experience Robodog up close Fri, 13.11. - 11 AM-12 PM: Google Earth VR Fri, 27.11. - 11 AM-12 PM: AR Sandbox: Earth, Water, Dino Worlds Fri, 11.12. - 11 AM-12 PM: AI Data Analysis: Become a climate researcher and analyze 12,000 social media posts Subscribe to the IT:U DCS Newsletter: Get informed about ongoing IT:U offers in the Digital City Studio Linz MORE INFO ABOUT THE DIGITAL CITY STUDIO? The Digital City Studio at Pfarrgasse 9 in Linz