In a world where AI tools constantly compete for our attention, Julian Windeck is building one that gives it back. His startup Attention Engineering has created an AI-powered desktop assistant that acts like a “second brain”, he explains in his DLD26 conversation with Julia Zhou, President of the Sigma Squared Society.
“You can imagine having a younger colleague who’s just following you around 24/7, looking across your shoulder, watching your screen, and then, of course, learning”, Windeck describes the system.
Unlike passive tools such as ChatGPT that only react to prompts, Attention Engineering’s system learns individual workflows, automates actions, and actively keeps users accountable to their tasks. “We are trying to really pay attention to the consumer”, he explains, “learn about him, deliver a very personalized experience.”
The conversation also touches upon differences between innovation in Europe and the United States. “I would never start a company in Germany or the EU”, says Windeck, who grew up in Bavaria.
Access to capital and talent gives California a clear edge, he argues, especially when combined with Silicon Valley’s spirit of embracing daring ideas. By contrast, in Europe, “people end up working on AI for logistics and supply chains, but not on the big moonshot ideas”, Windeck criticizes.
Watch the video to explore this session in detail.
