FutureTalks: Business, IT Trends, and Cross-Cultural Insights with Sérgio Laranjeira, CTO at Metacore

During a recent visit to Berlin, Justyna Szymańska-Laskowska, Client Engagement Manager & DACH Business Leader, met with Sérgio Laranjeira, CTO at Metacore, to discuss the vibrant business ecosystem in Germany. The interview covered evolving business trends, the ongoing AI revolution, and the influence of cross-cultural interactions on the German market.
The conversation highlighted that artificial intelligence is not just a trend but a transformative force that will significantly change business operations. The discussion delved into AI tools such as GitHub Copilot, Chat GPT, and AWS and Google solutions, enhancing process optimization and customer interactions. Notably, GitHub Copilot has been helping IT teams work up to 30% faster.
The interview also explored building a company culture where individuals can be themselves and, supported by the right technology, achieve great business results. Emphasis was placed on learning, experimentation, and patience in navigating AI-related challenges.

Justyna Szymańska-Laskowska: Welcome to our conversation where we delve into the dynamic landscape of business technology, AI, and cross-cultural experiences in Germany. I am your host, Justyna Szymańska-Laskowska, and today we are speaking with Sérgio Laranjeira, CTO at Metacore. Thank you for hosting us here in the vibrant city of Berlin. Germany’s IT sector has been on a remarkable trajectory; what key digital transformation trends have you observed recently?

Sérgio Laranjeira: I have been in Germany for roughly seven years. Recently, we have seen significant digitalisation in government, which was a major societal concern, as well as growth in Green Tech, Health Tech, and the car industry. Digitalisation is now a core part of company and government strategies, setting a good standard for future sustainability. Even if it took longer than elsewhere, it is now having a direct impact on the country.

Justyna Szymańska-Laskowska: How do businesses in Berlin specifically adapt to emerging technologies like AI, blockchain, or cloud computing?

Sérgio Laranjeira: Berlin is a city of startups that embraces and adapts to new technologies immediately. When I moved here, there was a remarkable trend in blockchain and fintech. During the pandemic, we saw the rapid rise of grocery delivery companies founded in Berlin. Now, we see heavy investment in Health Tech and AI as core parts of business models.

Justyna Szymańska-Laskowska: Regarding AI, how is it being integrated into existing business processes?

Sérgio Laranjeira: AI is not just a trend; it is here to disrupt how we do things. Currently, companies are adopting existing market products to increase internal productivity. For example, tech companies, including Metacore, have adopted GitHub Co-pilot. We also see integration with products from OpenAI (ChatGPT), Microsoft, Google, and AWS for tasks ranging from content generation to image creation and improving customer service.

Justyna Szymańska-Laskowska: What are the challenges and risks you face with AI implementation?

Sérgio Laranjeira: There are several. First, legal and regulatory uncertainty is a major challenge, similar to the implementation of GDPR years ago. We don’t know if a new regulation in six months will force us to change our integrations. Second, the technology is very new, and we are still in a discovery phase regarding product maturity and value. For long-term investments, I recommend “baby steps”. We shouldn’t shift our entire strategy to be AI-oriented yet because the products aren’t mature enough; we must be prepared to roll back if necessary.

Justyna Szymańska-Laskowska: How do you envision technology evolving with AI over the next five years?

Sérgio Laranjeira: I think it will be remarkable. Adoption will likely be 10 to 20 times higher than today. We will see high levels of automation and smarter decision-making in health and investments. In entertainment, AI will generate a vast amount of content. However, the ethical part will be the most problematic. We face issues with deep fakes, distinguishing real content from AI-generated content, and concerns about original content being stolen.

Justyna Szymańska-Laskowska: How do you foster a culture of innovation and assess ROI for these technologies within your team?

Sérgio Laranjeira: We have open sessions where people share experiences and experiment with new tools. The team in the gaming industry is very eager to use AI to facilitate creativity. To assess ROI, we look at both qualitative feedback from staff and quantitative metrics. For instance, GitHub Co-pilot has been shown to increase the percentage of unit testing and documentation. We avoid committing to products that aren’t mature or lack clear potential.

Justyna Szymańska-Laskowska: How will AI change the competitive landscape in the gaming industry?

Sergio Laranga: It will enable us to launch concepts and assets much faster. We will see more personalisation of casual games and new types of storytelling through AI-supported game engines. I am excited but also cautious due to the ethical questions involved.

Justyna Szymańska-Laskowska: Finally, how do you navigate cultural differences in the workplace?

Sérgio Laranjeira: Moving from Portugal to Germany was a challenge because Portuguese culture tends to avoid conflict, whereas Germans are very straightforward. I had to adapt by learning to embrace conflict to make decisions. Now, working for Metacore, a Finnish company, I’ve encountered a different culture that values well-being and, like Portugal, often avoids conflict. I’ve had to get used to “comfortable silence” in Finland, which often signifies agreement. In leadership, it is crucial to build trust by showing interest in people’s backgrounds and being honest and transparent with feedback.

Justyna Szymańska-Laskowska: Sergio, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. To our audience, thank you for joining us on this journey through business and technology in Germany.