Company evening on the key technology AI

The Green FabLab at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences (HSRW) on the Kamp-Lintfort campus opened its doors for the company evening. Miriam Drazek, research assistant in the LabLandscapes team, explains the concept: “In the LabLandscapes team, we work on the internal and external networking of the many laboratories at HSRW. The company evenings are an ideal opportunity for us to bring topics from our laboratories to the business community and other partners in the Lower Rhine region. Our task is to make the laboratories easier to reach and, above all, more visible.”

Paving the way for cooperation

Local authorities and companies from the region as well as members of the university were invited to the event. After four entertaining inputs, a lively dialogue developed over canapés and cool drinks. Miriam Drazek and her colleague René König, Network Coordinator team LabLandscapes, were pleased to note that the format was well received. The event in September was the fifth in the series of company evenings.

“In the presentations, experts provide concrete ideas for various stakeholders. These can then be taken up and discussed in greater depth. In the best case scenario, sharing and listening at the company evening lays the foundation for cooperation,” says René König.

Key technology AI

The company evening in September was dedicated to the versatile technology of artificial intelligence, or AI for short. “AI – between climate change and data protection” was the title of the presentation by Prof Dr Matteo Große-Kampmann and Prof Dr Patrick-Benjamin Bök, both of whom work in the Faculty of Communication and Environment at HSRW. Their urgent question: “What is the relationship between data protection and increased energy consumption, and what priorities need to be set?” A definitive answer to this difficult question was not given at the company evening, but it was certainly food for thought.

Neural network magic

In his presentation, Prof. Dr Matthias Krauledat from the “Technology and Bionics” faculty drew a comparison between biological nerve cells and machine learning and, more specifically, deep learning, i.e. the processing and analysis of complex data patterns or, in his words, “neural network magic”. As a practical example, he cited its application at the HSRW in the classification of materials, among other things.

Me & the machine

The presentation by Prof Dr Torsten Niechoj from the Faculty of Communication and Environment focused on student AI skills and the question of “What do companies need”. In July of this year, he and Prof Dr Alexander Gerber conducted a survey of students and lecturers at the university on the use of AI. He presented the results of the 200 participants at the company evening. As expected, it emerged that the more complex the operation of the tool, the less AI is used. He was pleased to see that AI-supported search and literature research is frequently used.

In the survey, students also frequently expressed concerns about quality and data protection. It turned out that many students use AI individually, but the “collaborative potential”, according to Prof. Dr Torsten Niechoj, has not yet been fully recognised and applied. A large majority are convinced that they acquire skills through the use of AI, but do not believe that it enhances their professional qualifications. This is where Prof Dr Torsten Niechoj asked the companies present for help: “How do companies use AI tools?” he asked. “And what expectations do you have of university graduates in terms of AI skills?”

Openness to assistance systems for the elderly

Prof Dr Christian Ressel from the HSRW’s research focus “Assistance and Participation” and head of the TransRegINT sub-project “Digital Showroom Assistance and Participation” spoke at the company evening about the HSRW’s strategy for the region in the use of AI in assistance systems. “How sustainable is research? Is it visible to the outside world?” His answer:

“The region still knows too little about our research.” With the TransRegINT project, the HSRW will continue to open up to the region.

He referred to another project that is currently being set up: the collaboration between Hochschule Niederrhein, Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg, the University of Duisburg-Essen and HSRW in the ZAT (Centre for Assistive Technologies) Rhine-Ruhr. In addition to more effective and efficient research, the ZAT is intended to ensure greater visibility in the region.

Prof Dr Christian Ressel concluded his presentation with a perspective on assistance systems in old age in order to fulfil the desire to live in one’s own four walls for as long as possible. A sensitive approach is needed in order to avoid being overwhelmed in the same way as society is today by ChatGPT. The presentation ended with the question of the extent to which we should allow AI to enter our domestic environment and was combined with an invitation to further dialogue.