Michael Schmid

Michael Schmid began his career in 1975 with the German Armed Forces, training in long-distance communications – radio, carrier frequency systems, and digital transmission. When he found himself explaining to engineers how their own systems worked, he drew the consequence: a physics degree to truly understand the fundamentals. In 1982, he programmed an ELIZA-like dialogue system on a ZX81 – the experience of how easily people attribute intelligence to machines shapes his view of today's AI discussion.

In the 1980s, he developed an output management system for high-volume document production. It has been running for 39 years without fundamental redesign – proof that solid architecture doesn't require constant renewal.

In 2000, he founded it-dialog e.K. in Freiburg. Via Ahrensburg, the journey led back to his home region of Stuttgart. Since then, he has worked as an interim manager in critical infrastructures: Deutsche Telekom, energy utilities, defense. His core competence is finding gaps – between what technology promises and what contracts actually guarantee. This gap-finding led directly to his books on managed services and AI.