Artificial intelligence has evolved from a buzzword to concrete applications within the packaging industry. Tanaro Schädler, Innovation Engineer AI Data at the Uhlmann Group and one of the six interpack Young Talents 2026, offers a nuanced perspective on the current state of AI integration.
Mature technologies rather than marketing promises
„A few years ago, this word, AI, Insight, was still heavily teased as a buzzword,“ reports Schädler. „And now, three years after ChatGPT, the first key figures are being sought out. What added value can be found?“
Its observation at interpack 2026: The buzzwords have subsided, but the technologies presented show greater product maturity. A sign that the industry is moving from experimental approaches to practical solutions – and is no longer using AI as a selling point, but as a demonstrable lever in plant operation.
Analytical and generative AI: two worlds, one protocol
Schädler clearly distinguishes between two categories of AI: „analytical AI, which you then see a bit closer to the product, in the direction of predictive maintenance, condition monitoring“ and generative AI, which can primarily create added value in operational areas. Both worlds have different application logic – but they are technologically converging.
He sees an important breakthrough in the Model Context Protocol (MCP): „It allows any interface, as we find them in machines today, to be made available for agentic AI such as Large Language Models.“ This creates a practical bridge between production-oriented systems and generative models – a step that significantly lowers the integration barriers of recent years.
Pharma regulation is a brake, openness attracts new talent
Particularly in the pharmaceutical sector, the Uhlmann Group's traditional domain, regulations present a significant challenge. „For us in the pharmaceutical sector, regulations are naturally the strictest at times,“ explains Schädler. In the consumer goods market, the integration of non-deterministic AI could happen considerably earlier.
As a Young Talent, Schädler also sees technological openness as an important lever for attracting new talent: „When people in the company notice that the company itself is working at the cutting edge of technology, experimenting with new technologies, and giving employees the scope for innovation.“ The packaging industry is surprisingly diverse – the spectrum of Young Talents ranges from classic mechanical engineers to IT specialists.
