Lilly Neugebauer

Lilly Neugebauer is a research associate at the Global Public Policy Institute (GPPi) in Berlin, where she contributes to the institute’s work on futures and strategic foresight. Her research interests include the future of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly with regards to its use in security and defense policy in Germany and Europe. She is also fascinated by foresight models such as ​“horizon-oriented thinking” (a mental model used to balance current operations with long-term innovation and strategic transformation) and theories of accelerationism. 

Next to her work with GPPi, Lilly is a PhD candidate at the Helmut-Schmidt-University of the Bundeswehr Hamburg. In her doctoral research, she investigates the use of AI in the defense domain, questioning how democracies are preparing for the future of warfare and how socio-technical future visions shape policymaking processes and democratic accountability. 

Her academic work is complemented by her ongoing role as a research associate in the Helmut-Schmidt-University’s Department of Political Theory. She regularly engages with the broader research and policy community through participating in conferences, workshops, and events. 

Lilly holds a master’s degree in International Relations from the London School of Economics (LSE), with her thesis focusing on the role of ​‘strategic culture’ in the German drone debate. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE) from the Vrije Universiteit (VU) in Amsterdam. Prior to joining GPPi, Lilly interned at the German Agency for International Cooperation (Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, GIZ), at the VU Amsterdam and in a consultancy focusing on civic participation (ifok GmbH).