In a recent interview, Valentina Kerst from the German AI Association outlines the organisation’s role in TrustLLM. As Germany’s largest AI network, the German AI Association connects innovators with industry and policymakers to promote AI aligned with European values. Valentina highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, ethical responsibility, and building a strong ecosystem to ensure real-world impact and digital sovereignty.
Tell us about your organisation’s role in the project.
My name is Valentina Kerst and I work at the German AI Association. With more than 500 AI companies, we are the largest AI network in Germany. We connect Germany’s most innovative AI and deep tech companies with established businesses and politics. The members of the German AI Association are committed to ensure that AI is applied in the spirit of European and democratic values. The goal is digital sovereignty for Europe. At TrustLLM, I am responsible for building a European ecosystem.
Which challenges do you find most valuable to solve through the project?
A strong LLM project brings together an interdisciplinary team that blends deep technical expertise in machine learning and NLP with domain-specific knowledge. This ensures the model is not only well-trained, but also meaningfully evaluated and continuously improved.
Equally important is a clear commitment to responsible AI. Addressing ethical concerns like fairness, transparency, data protection, and sustainability from the start is essential. Projects that include mechanisms for bias detection, hallucination control, and explainability stand out as especially forward-thinking.
Finally, contributing to an open ecosystem—or enabling clear societal or economic impact—adds significant value. Whether through open-source models and datasets or practical real-world applications, these projects help drive innovation and broader adoption.
What has been the most inspiring experience during your work on the project so far?
I’ve been truly inspired by the team so far. It’s made up of people from diverse, interdisciplinary backgrounds, all bringing unique perspectives and strengths. What really stands out is the shared drive and enthusiasm to achieve something meaningful together. There’s an incredible spirit in the air – motivated, collaborative, and full of positive energy.
What are you most looking forward to achieving in the coming months?
In the coming months, I’m most looking forward to building a strong and vibrant ecosystem together with a diverse network of powerful partners. This ecosystem will reflect the strength and depth of European knowledge and collaboration. One key priority will be ensuring a successful transfer of our results into the economy—only then can the project truly unfold its full potential and create lasting impact.
Valentina Kerst, Senior Partner Management, German AI Association (KI Bundesverband)