Interview with Dr. Stefan Voget, Continental AG

Dr. Stefan Voget heads the AI Infrastructure Lab at Continental AG.

Continental AG is an international company with a long tradition. From a pure tire manufacturer, Continental has developed into one of the largest automotive suppliers in the world. Today the company offers a very wide range of different products and solutions for various customers. The company’s current research / development areas include automated driving, electromobility, networking and infotainment in the car.

Question 1: Which company do you work for and what position do you hold there?

Continental AG, Head of AI Infrastructure Lab

Question 2: What are your main tasks that you will take on in this position?

Research and advance development for AI topics with a focus on bringing AI-based applications into embedded automotive controllers.

Question 3: "Knowledge creates² data" is a cross-faculty project at the University of Regensburg. It combines research efforts in the areas of Big Data, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. How do your areas of responsibility relate to AI? Please describe this relation to us. (Please give us sample topics / tasks)

Optimization of AI for the use in embedded controllers
Ethics of AI
Protection, safety and security for AI

Question 4: How can you describe your collaboration with the University of Regensburg? Do you give lectures on specific topics, do you give students practical insights into your company or do you support the university in other ways?

Cooperation exists through the AIR initiative of the city of Regensburg.

Question 5: Building on this, what are the advantages for your company?

Regional positioning and cooperation of AI research topics.
Creation of a data pool to enable the validation of AI applications on site.

Question 6: Why do you think it makes sense to convey AI-related topics to students?

An important tool for the development of the future, which has to be developed and used ethically. Students must learn to use the method responsibly.

Question 7: You are also involved in research with your company. What are you currently doing here?

Possible uses of AI in safety-critical, automotive applications.

Question 8: Have you already done research on topics that are related to AI? If so, can you give us an example?

E.g. research on ethical issues.

Question 9: Now a question about your personal career. What experience do you have in the field of AI? And how did you get your knowledge of AI? (Ex .: training, self-study, etc.)

With the professional career over the years.

Question 10: Do you personally find it easy or difficult to deal with topics that are related to AI?

Easy.

Question 11: What exactly is it that interests / fascinates you particularly about such topics?

The challenge of working on exciting and new topics.

Question 12: Are there currently projects that you are working on across companies with other companies? If so, can you give us an example of this? And how is the connection to be assessed?

The VDA flagship initiative for automated driving is organizing a project group for the development of AI applications. Continental is active in several of these research projects.

Question 13: What is your ideal vision for the future role of AI in higher education? What could be the biggest change in the future compared to the status quo?

The realistic use of AI together with HW and SW in the system. AI is currently seen as hype and “cool”, but the limits and basic requirements of these methods when integrating them into systems are not taken into account.

Question 14: How do you feel about the “Knowledge creates² data” project at the University of Regensburg? How do you contribute to the projects?

So far I have no insight into this.

Question 15: In your opinion, are there any other aspects that you consider important in this context and that were not addressed in this interview?

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Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions. We wish you a nice day!

Interview with Dr. Stefan Voget, Continental AG

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