Erik Cuypers - CDO of the Year 2019

One of the benefits often attributed to AI is improved efficiency and convenience. In his book 'Superintelligence', Nick Bostrom, a prominent thinker in the field of artificial intelligence at Oxford, highlights the potential of AI to solve problems that are currently beyond the reach of human capabilities, not least because we are only able to use 1% of our brains. This could result in a world where basic needs are better met, which in turn could increase the well-being of individuals. This is the argument Elon Musk will always use too.
Think of unmanned space travel with AI, cancer screening or consider UA's project in Africa where they are trying to stop devastation by converting nighttime condensation into drinking water through AI. 

At the other end of the spectrum, a thinker like Jonathan Carr in ‘The Shallows’ warns of the dangers of over-reliance on technology, including AI. He argues that constant exposure to technological gadgets impairs our ability to think deeply, concentrate, and connect. Perhaps you also have this experience with your children? Will the next generation still be able to read a book by Tolstoy? If AI becomes increasingly integrated into our daily lives, it could affect the quality of human relationships and the ability to self-reflect, which could ultimately have a negative impact on our happiness level.

Philosophers like Heidegger add a dimension to the debate by pointing out the danger of ‘technological alienation’. He argues that technology, including AI, can alienate us from our being and our relationship to the world. If people become increasingly dependent on technology and AI to make decisions and perform tasks, there is a risk of losing ourselves in a world of artificial efficiency and undermining the human existential experience. 

The answer to the question, lies in the word Happiness. Happiness is subjective. We can define it as 'subjective well-being'. Moreover, there are different kinds of happiness.
Aristoteles said that already.  You got hedonism: that is the emotion where we experience as much pleasure and satisfaction emotions as possible. And you also have eudaemonia: the feeling that we want to live in a meaningful way. We can only do that in dialogue with others.

So if you ask me if AI will make people happier, it is YES and NO, subject to conditions. YES, to help us live a healthier life in which a lot of tasks we don't like or do well are taken over. But NO if we become lazy creatures who, thanks to AI, think we can become happy without self-reflection without engaging with others. The impact of AI on human happiness is nuanced with both positive and negative aspects. It is essential to recognize the benefits of efficiency and convenience, but also the potential drawbacks, such as alienation and loss of depth in human experiences. Above all, let us connect with each other, engage in dialogue and be sufficiently critical and self-reflective.

Is technology, especially AI, making us happier? 

CDO of the Year - Hero

CDO of the Year 2024 - Hero

Take your agenda.
The Chief Digital Officer Awards will take place on __17 October 2024__. 

__This was CDO of the Year 2023__

Johan Guelluy (Acerta) and Régis Pitolet (i-City) have been elected the Chief Digital Officers of the Year. This happened during a gala with 540 guests at the Brussels Docks event hall.

Want to relive the CDO awards gala? 
Here you can find the [pictures](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1_WLgs6kyN27T91iAEBWhv4Vjt7qC8Ut6?usp=sharing "Pictures CDO of the Year 2023"). 
Here you can find the [aftermovie](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1g9wPKjK9m1gnMLIl1wr4SaYxOS2tDfQQ/view?usp=sharing "Aftermovie CDO of the Year 2023"). 

Did you miss the keynotes? Click here to watch ['The diamond in the rough'](https://vimeo.com/879478781 "Keynote recording Steven Van Belleghem") by Steven Van Belleghem or ['The perfect storm'](https://vimeo.com/880676751 "Keynote recording Erwin Verstraelen") by Erwin Verstraelen.

[Johan Guelluy](https://www.linkedin.com/in/johan-guelluy-1091384/ "Johan Guelluy - LinkedIn ") is the CIO of Acerta, one of Belgium's largest social security companies. He carried out a complete digital transformation including the total redesign and construction of a new online payroll engine. This is one of the most complex projects because of regulations, integrations and constant changes. In record time, he launched new services in close cooperation with the business. These include 'Connect HR Office', a user-friendly platform for SMEs' hr services, iCounter.be for the self-employed and 'Ikwilstarten.be'. With Alix, the first digital assistant was launched and the portal Myacerta was introduced. Of particular note is that the platform will be shared with competitors.

[Régis Pitolet](https://www.linkedin.com/in/r%C3%A9gis-pitolet-digital-transformation/ "Régis Pitolet - LinkedIn ") is the Chief Transformation Officer of i-City, the organisation that provides it services to the city of Brussels. He succeeded in piloting a lead paper administration to a fully digital environment based on 'citizen centric services'. That was not at all evendent in a politically rigid environment. Half of the Brussels population has since been using the MyBlx platform. Digitisation allowed 33 civil servants to be redeployed. 144,000 tonnes of paper were saved. The solution has also been nominated for the Smart Cities Awards later this year in Barcelona.

CDO of the Year 2024 - Info

CDO of the Year 2024

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CDO of the Year 2024 - Organisations

About us

Are you a candidate for the title of Chief Digital Officer of the Year? Or do you know someone who fits the profile?

Send us your application by submitting a file in which you explain to us why you should win the CDO award.

The file should contain:
- Your motivation
- Your career path
- Your organisation
- Digital projects
- The impact on the organisation and the market 
- Your leadership.

Apply now with a file containing your C.V. (LinkedIn profile), your projects and achievements, a motivation for your application and a high resolution photo.

CDO of the Year 2023 - Apply

How to apply

Please submit your application before Friday 8 September. You will give a presentation during the jury meeting on Thursday 28 September from 5 PM onwards. The award ceremony will take place on Thursday 26 October.

For more information and to submit your dossier, please contact [luc@destraffemannen.be](mailto:luc@destraffemannen.be), +32495 23 99 25.

**Candidacy application deadline extended to September 8th, 2023**

Look who has won the previous CDO awards. 

[Geert Van Mol](https://www.linkedin.com/in/geert-van-mol-1779812/ "Geert Van Mol - LinkedIn ") (Belfius)
[Erik Cuypers](https://www.linkedin.com/in/erik-cuypers-aa6432/ "Erik Cuypers - LinkedIn ") (Maxeda)
[Bjorn Van Reet](https://www.linkedin.com/in/bjornvanreet/ "Bjorn Van Reet - LinkedIn ") (Kinepolis) 
[Erwin Verstraelen](https://www.linkedin.com/in/erwin-verstraelen-a885974/ "Erwin Verstraelen - LinkedIn") (Haven van Antwerpen-Brugge) 
[Benoît Degotte](https://www.linkedin.com/in/beno%C3%AEt-degotte-3833a724/ "Benoît Degotte - LinkedIn ") (Centre Hospitalier Regional de la Citadelle) 
[Pierre-André Rulmont](https://www.linkedin.com/in/pierre-andr%C3%A9-rulmont-672373/ "Pierre-André Rulmont - LinkedIn ") (MIVB) 
[Cécile Gonfroid](https://www.linkedin.com/in/cecilegonfroid/ "Cécile Gonfroid") (RTBF) 
[Benjamin Bostoen](https://www.linkedin.com/in/bostoen/ "Benjamin Bostoen - LinkedIn ") (Thomas & Piron ICT) 

Apply - extra text

Of course you want to attend the CDO Awards Night. We got two formulas. You can reserve 1 or more seats at 350 euro each or reserve a table for 10 people at 3.000 euro (excl. VAT).

This includes parking fee at <a href="https://www.docksdome.be/en/contact/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Docks Dome event hall</a>. Get your tickets now.

For more information about registrations, sponsoring or partnerships, please contact Nicolas Demeure.

[nicolas@destraffemannen.be](mailto:nicolas@destraffemannen.be) - 0478 65 20 34

CDO of the Year 2024 - Attend

Want to attend the awards night?

The jury consists of the winners of the previous editions and many prominent personalities from the Belgian digitisation biotope. We are proud that they all want to participate.

President of the Jury is Luc Blyaert, Partner at De Straffe Mannen.

Isabel Donvil

Bruno Segers

Danielle Jacobs

Erik Cuypers

Geert Van Mol

Georges Ataya

Jan De Schepper

Jurgen Van De Sompel

Koen De Witte

Lode Peeters

Luc Blyaert

Katja Schipperheijn

Pierre-André Rulmont

Suyin Aerts

Wendy Knaepen

Yin Oei

Hugues De Pra

Nicolas Demeure

Cécile Gonfroid

Bjorn Van Reet

Tom Olislagers

Sofien Ben Sassi

Jurgen Strijkers

Paul Kaisin

Erwin Verstraelen

Benjamin Bostoen

Jury 2023

#### 18:00 Cocktail Reception
#### 19:15 Welcome
#### 19:30 Starter
#### 20:30 Keynote
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/bjornvanreet/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Erwin Verstraelen (Port of Antwerp-Bruges) </a>
#### 20:45 Main course 
#### 21:45 Keynote
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenvanbelleghem/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Steven Van Belleghem: "The diamond in the rough"</a>
#### 22:20 Awards Ceremony
Chief Digital Officer of the Year 2023
#### 23:00 Dessert and afterparty
#### 01:00 Closing

CDO of the Year 2024 - Program

Program

CHIEF DIGITAL OFFICER