Caught our eye - Week 10
From the technological turning point of AI to the timeless order of the beginning of spring, from the constitutional protection of biodiversity to the solemn commemoration in the Federal Palace. This week's topics connect progress with Swiss tradition and solidarity.
AI Integration in Switzerland
From Theory to Workflow Practice: On February 12, our photographer Gaëtan Bally visited the Applied Machine Learning Days (AMLD) at EPFL in Ecublens. The image shows workshop participants focused on coding on their laptops, learning the craft of translating theoretical models into executable, productive software.
Currently, signals are intensifying for a strategic turning point in the technology sector. The era of pure AI experiments is over. Companies and developers are shifting their focus away from merely integrating new tools to achieving measurable efficiency improvements in existing workflows. The technological hype is giving way to a phase of pragmatic application.
Events like the Applied Machine Learning Days (AMLD) at EPFL are symptomatic of this shift. Switzerland is no longer using its technical universities solely as ivory towers for fundamental research. Training in 2026 will increasingly focus on preparing professionals who can integrate AI systems into existing, complex infrastructures.
Order is a timeless Constant
Spring is approaching, and that’s a good thing. "On the first dry spring days, street painters begin their work every year," the original caption from 1968 noted. The archival image shows the precise retracing of markings: lines that divide traffic areas and standardize processes.
The retrospective documents a craft that has technically evolved significantly, but whose functional core remains unchanged. While today highly specialized machines and reflective high-performance materials are used, the goal remains the same: visual guidance and safety in public spaces.
This continuity underscores that efficient processes – both yesterday and today – are based on clear structuring. What began in 1968 manually with a brush and stencil is now part of a highly technical maintenance effort, preparing Switzerland's infrastructure for safe mobility at the start of spring.
Further historical topics
Number of the Week - 600
In Switzerland, more than 600 species of bees are native, but biodiversity is under pressure: About half of the native wild bee species are considered endangered. A report from the Federal Office for the Environment (BAFU) already identified the lack of flowering plants and suitable nesting sites as the main causes of this threat in 2024.
To counter this development, Swiss beekeeping associations are now seeking legal protection. A new popular initiative aims to enshrine bee protection directly in the Federal Constitution. The corresponding initiative text is currently being reviewed for formal correctness by the Federal Chancellery.
The starting signal for mobilization is already scheduled: The official signature collection is set to begin on May 20, 2026 – coinciding with World Bee Day.
More numbers
Spring Session: Minute of Silence in the Council of States
At the start of the 2026 Spring Session of the Swiss Federal Assembly, the Council of States paused on Monday, March 2, 2026. With a minute of silence, the members of parliament paid tribute to the victims of the fire disaster in Crans-Montana, which occurred on New Year’s morning.
The image by our photographer Andreas Becker from the Federal Palace captures the moment of silence and bipartisan sympathy. National Council President Pierre-André Page emphasized in his speech the institutional responsibility: It is the duty of parliament to "never forget" this tragic event.
This gesture in the heart of Swiss democracy stands as a symbol of respect and national solidarity for those affected and the bereaved. It marks the solemn beginning of a session that will focus not only on business matters but also on social cohesion.
Further images of the current Spring Session