From 28.-30.10.2025, a student contingent from the ELIZA unit Freiburg had the privilege of attending the Konrad Zuse Schools of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence anniversary hosted by the ELIZA unit Darmstadt. The event was a valuable opportunity to connect with leading researchers, industry experts, and fellow students from across the Zuse Schools.
🧠 Visionary Keynotes and Industry Insights
The day was anchored by inspiring keynote presentations that explored important applications
and future directions for AI.
- Professor Markus Reichstein (Friedrich Schiller University Jena & Max Planck
Institute for Biogeochemistry) delivered a compelling talk on how AI can be leveraged
to understand complex Earth systems and contribute meaningfully to climate
protection. - Dr. Claudius Gläser (Bosch Research) provided an industry perspective with a deep
dive into the future of automated driving, showcasing the practical challenges and
immense potential of AI in mobility.
💡The Main Event: From Algorithms to Intuition
A central highlight was the lively panel discussion, “From Algorithms to Intuition: What AI
Can Learn from Human Reasoning.” The panel featured a distinguished lineup of experts,
including Professor Iryna Gurevych (TU Darmstadt), Dr. Letitia Parcalabescu (Aleph Alpha
Research), Professor Marc Toussaint (TU Berlin), and Professor Volker Tresp (LMU
München).
The discussion offered several key takeaways on the nature of modern AI:
- A Mirror to Humanity: The panel explored how LLMs act as a mirror to human
reasoning, reflecting not just our logic but also our intuition, biases, and
inconsistencies. - The Need for Verification: As models develop their own “machine intuition,” the need
for robust verification methods—ways for humans to check what a model “thinks”—
becomes paramount. - A Collaborative Future: The consensus pointed toward a future of human-AI
collaboration, where humans provide essential meaning and direction, while AI
contributes unprecedented breadth and processing power.
🧠 Beyond the Talks: Robotics and Career Horizons
Beyond the presentations, we were treated to a fascinating tour of the robotics lab in
Darmstadt, witnessing demonstrations from resilient robotic dogs to robots capable of complex
juggling. The day wrapped up with a networking dinner, giving us a great chance to talk more
informally with students and researchers from the other sites.
The second day shifted focus to professional development with a dialogue session on
“Chances and Challenges” for Zuse School graduates in Germany. Dr. Markus Hellenthal
(Senior Vice President at Materna SE) shared invaluable advice, stressing that the most
crucial step in building a career is active networking—engaging directly with professors,
speakers, and peers to uncover new opportunities.
The anniversary was more than just a series of talks; it was a confirmation of the value of the
Zuse School community. We returned to Freiburg inspired by the discussions, with new
connections, and a clearer vision for our path forward.
Impressions
Authors: Stefani Kecman, Ema Mekic, Daria Kulikova, Mustafa Tajjar
