In partnership with the Applied AI Initiative and Technical University of Munich, fortiss recently hosted the "AI for SMEs" conference. Matthias Pfaff, head of the fortiss AI Application Centre, explains why SMEs should engage with AI and how those responsible can acquire expertise in AI technologies.
What is "AI for SMEs" all about?
With "AI for SMEs" we would like to address the subject of artificial intelligence as clearly as possible, i.e., by way of examples. We focus on the following questions: What is the significance of AI for medium-sized companies? Which specific uses are relevant to them? What needs to be done to put AI technologies into practice?
What do you wish to achieve with this?
We wish to draw attention to the subject among medium-sized companies, whilst also encouraging debate with AI experts and users, thereby promoting a mutual exchange of knowledge. In doing so, a platform will be set up for medium-sized companies that makes it easy for them to exchange ideas with researchers and start-ups in this field and get support with taking possible first steps with AI.
Which AI qualifications do medium-sized companies currently have?
The AI-related, application-specific expertise in companies is still limited. This is why fortiss has set up the AI Application Centre to work with partners to develop training and qualification measures for this target group. This starts with learning the simplest terms relating to AI, to examples of its use, through to hands-on training sessions. What matters here is that domain knowledge with new technological competence always finds its way into the company.
Which challenges must SMEs overcome when it comes to AI?
Since there is no "single" AI technology, the challenge is getting started and evaluating possible AI technologies. Likewise, the large number of available AI solutions means that a company must have a sufficient data basis. This requires a certain amount of preliminary work within a company and usually domain-specific knowledge as well.
How can SMEs update and maintain their AI software in future?
As updates and maintenance are becoming more complex, cloud solutions offer an alternative. Such a breadth of technical and software competence is difficult to keep in-house. In addition, strategic partnerships and an ecosystem idea, in which one acts as a partial solution provider, can be helpful.
What can fortiss offer SMEs?
fortiss can carry out a technically neutral evaluation of solutions and identify individual AI possibilities for medium-sized companies. As an independent research institution, fortiss is an ideal partner when it comes to adapting technical solutions. It is often the case that individual circumstances in the respective company, such as a heterogeneous machine inventory or a lack of uniform data management, prevent a simple or quick implementation of AI solutions. We expand and adapt techniques and methods so that medium-sized companies can also use corresponding technologies.
What would you recommend to an undecided SME?
The aim should be to carry out technology scouting with suitable employees in-house and to simply try out new technologies in small projects. My recommendation to medium-sized companies is to work with independent institutions. Bachelor's or Master's theses can also be used to evaluate one's own technological landscape and the prerequisites for AI within the company.