This week, we’re spotlighting Micha Kunze, Principal Data Engineer at Maersk. A self-described “recovering scientist,” Micha handles data, ML, and AI problems across the shipping giant’s core logistics operations.
At Maersk, these technologies aren’t just back-office analytics tools; they are deeply embedded in the digital products that run the business every day. Interestingly, the recent wave of agentic AI has brought Micha right back to his academic roots, meaning he now spends more time on evaluation, optimization, and experimentation.
We sat down with Micha to discuss his journey, what keeps him inspired, and his take on where AI is actually headed.
Hyperight.com: What’s the best way to describe your job to someone outside tech?
Micha Kunze: My son used to think I actually work on a ship, which sounds way more adventurous than what I really do. Here is how I tried to explain it to him: If you line up all of Maersk’s containers lengthwise, they stretch farther than the circumference of the earth. Someone needs to calculate where those containers need to be and when, so people can ship e.g. shoes from Taiwan to Denmark.
I am one of those guys – or rather, I build and run the intelligent machine that calculates it and reacts when things don’t go as planned.
Hyperight.com: What originally sparked your interest in AI/data, and what keeps you inspired today?
Micha Kunze: During my time in academia I was doing HPC, so data was already fascinating to me. What got me hooked was realizing the impact you can have with data and technology. I’m fortunate to work with engineers, scientists and leaders who drive real change, and that keeps me inspired. Five years ago we started with what now seem like trivial data integrations; today we tackle global network and operations optimizations worth hundreds of millions of USD.
Hyperight.com: What is one challenge you’re trying to solve, and why does it matter?
Micha Kunze: Reliable and efficient logistics at global scale – because everyone relies on logistics in their daily lives, whether to reduce emissions or to access the goods they need. Our world is full of disruption; just think of the Suez disruptions over the last six years, or COVID. Working on resilient logistics at Maersk means I get to tackle some of the toughest problems in this space – it’s equally fascinating and important.
Hyperight.com: A tool you can’t live without (tech or not)?
Micha Kunze: Honestly, my Omnium Cargo bike – with three kids, it’s the only way to manage my family logistics every day.
Hyperight.com: What trend in data or AI do you think will shape the Nordic region the most?
Micha Kunze: The Nordics have both great startups and scaleups like Lovable and industrial heavyweights like Maersk and Scania. What will shape us is how we industrialize AI to create real, sustainable value – not gimmicks or chatbots. That is what I see with my serious peers: leveraging AI as a tool, measuring it, and using it reliably.
Hyperight.com: What’s one piece of advice you’d give to others entering the data and AI field?
Micha Kunze: It might sound lame, but: stay curious and continuously question your assumptions. AI is reshaping industries (and there will be other waves in the future), and no one can hand you the playbook or know what will happen.
