Feb 6 2019
All are talking about artificial intelligence. It’s a subject that creates high hopes while at the same time causing some worries. Hence, Fraunhofer IAO aims to try and dismiss some of the myths during the “Science Year 2019,” dedicated to AI.
(Image credit: Ludmilla Parsyak, © Fraunhofer IAO)
A string of publications, lectures, and projects will elucidate how specific business sectors and companies can employ artificial intelligence, and what effect it will have on the workplace.
It is a well-known fact that machine learning and artificial intelligence are going to have a long-term effect on the workplace. However, the only change is that new technology and the availability of an increasing amount of usable data have added a completely new priority to this trend. In the upcoming “Science Year 2019,” which is devoted to the AI topic, Fraunhofer IAO will thus look at how companies can make use of the opportunities provided by artificial intelligence and what kind of changes it will bring to the world of work. A sneak preview of the program is already given by an online calendar which will include typical applications, events, publications, and prototypes.
AI Map: An Overview of Projects and Innovations in Germany
The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has started an initiative known as Plattform Lernende Systeme—a platform for machine learning and AI. Its associates include Fraunhofer IAO. In collaboration with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi), this platform has recently reported an AI map developed to demonstrate the nature of artificial intelligence and the effect it will have on business, industry, and day-to-day life. This map illustrates AI-based model applications and projects, at present as well as in the near future, from across all fields of application, sizes of company, and sectors of business. It will be constantly updated with new illustrations from research and practice all through the course of the “Science Year 2019” and can be recollected online at any time.
People and Data: The Key Factors for Beneficial AI Applications
Irrespective of the field of application or sector of business—AI is simply always as good as the data which it is based upon. The human one is the other crucial factor in the development of AI applications. SmartAIwork is a joint project which includes Fraunhofer IAO, along with the Institute of Human Factors and Technology Management IAT at the University of Stuttgart, and several other partners. It aims to show how AI can aid in making clerical work more productive and making more scope for people to improve their skills. In addition, Fraunhofer IAO is a member of the innovation network “Digitalization in the insurance industry,” which helps identify and make use of opportunities for AI.
Our aim is to reduce the workload so that people can devote themselves to more creative tasks. This will increase not only their motivation but also their identification with a task. AI can also help in areas where know-how or tact and sensitivity are required, by enabling us to rapidly identify solutions that have been used in similar cases.
Thomas Renner, Head of Research into Digital Business, Fraunhofer IAO.
Thomas Renner is also a member of the International Partnership on AI.
Learning How to Analyze Data with AI Methods
The “Science Year 2019” will see Fraunhofer IAO coordinate various events intended to help companies take the first step in the world of AI. The program is already ongoing with the Future Forum 2019 on January 31st and February 1st, which addressed the topic of “How digitalization and cognitive systems are changing the world of work.” The seminar program “Data science and artificial intelligence” will concentrate on practical cases and tool demonstrations exclusively chosen to make the showcased concepts clear and logical. The events target specialists, executives, and IT experts who wish to gain an insight into machine learning, AI, and data science; however, beginners and other interested parties can also take part in the event.