“This will turn some processes upside down”

OÖN: If you were to start a company now: which one would it be and why?

Markus Achleitner: I would start a company that explores, develops and scales the potential use of artificial intelligence in various areas. AI is a digital revolution in communication processes, public administration, industry and energy. It will change our economic life.

But the enormous demand for AI is now waning again.

The hype surrounding the widespread awareness has died down a bit since ChatGPT. But the situation is different when it comes to applications. Hardly any other topic in digitalization is currently being researched and tested on such a broad scale. This will turn some processes upside down, including in the public sector, for example in approval procedures. It is also part of the answer to demographic developments with fewer people and more work.

How is Upper Austria prepared?

We have huge potential because we have a pioneer in the form of the Software Competence Center in Hagenberg. There are a number of specific projects, for example the company Trustifai with a certification system for AI. Sepp Hochreiter is also driving AI projects forward at the JKU. And we are in the process of birthing the digital university. We have great starting conditions.

What else does it take to ignite the spark?

A lot of awareness is needed in companies, on the part of employees and entrepreneurs. First of all, everyone sees the dangers as a reflex, that’s logical. It is clear that the legal situation needs to be regulated. Awareness needs to be raised through a lot of information and examples. Digitalos is a good platform for this.

Are you afraid of AI?

I am not afraid. I am fascinated by what will be possible, but I am aware that we need regulations to distinguish what is real and what is artificial. Artificial intelligence is also programmed, controlled and created by human intelligence. We need systems that allow us to trust that the things we hear, see and read have a real background and comply with ethics and morals. But I am a supporter of the idea that we should focus on the opportunities presented by AI.

Is it Europe’s job to create legal rules?

There is the European AI Act, where Europe was a world leader. This will certainly have to be adjusted every year. I would like to see the same dynamism and more speed in identifying and implementing the opportunities for product innovations, competitive advantages and digital pioneering roles that Europe can have in this area, for example in automation in industrial production.

What is needed for this is digital infrastructure, the key word being broadband expansion. How is Upper Austria positioned in this regard?

We are staying on course at full speed. Over the past seven years, the federal and state governments have invested 650 million euros in broadband expansion in Upper Austria. During this time, we have reduced the proportion of under-served households from 25 to four percent. Fast internet is a basic infrastructure. But the last few percent are the most difficult and expensive. That is why the government’s third broadband billion is needed as soon as possible. In Upper Austria, we have now launched a gap-closing program worth ten million euros, a white spot program, so to speak. With this, we want to combine and supply individual houses across municipal boundaries in one project.

How far has progress been made with the Digital University (IT:U)?

Research, teaching, entrepreneurship: this is the new approach that the university is taking. The closer the integration, the faster innovation will reach the market. IT:U is setting the pace for the digital transformation of the economy and is intended to be a seismograph for trends. At traditional universities, the entrepreneurial mission was not included in the founding charter. Now things are different, so there must be no reservations about contact with the economy. Ideally, an ecosystem for a digital turbo should be created in the next ten years. It is clear that this will require breaking some patterns of thinking.