Menü

Scholars and experts in AI competence gather at the conference "AI in Business and Economics" at the HRW

NRW Minister of Economic Affairs Mona Neubaur gave the welcome address

Mülheim an der Ruhr / Düsseldorf, 08 March 2023. Artificial intelligence (AI) will fundamentally change companies, economies and societies. In this context, it is important to ensure that the development and application of AI is responsible and that ethical aspects are taken into account in addition to technical and economical ones. This is the conclusion of Professors Dr Isabel Lausberg and Dr Michael Vogelsang after two days of compelling presentations and lively discussions, which focused on the scientific exchange of approaches and research results on the use of artificial intelligence in companies. The DFG-funded conference "AI in Business and Economics - The Economic Perspective on Artificial Intelligence (EPEAI)" was held on 6 and 7 March at the Hochschule Ruhr West in Mülheim an der Ruhr.

"The spread of artificial intelligence (AI) follows economic incentives. This is now leading to a strong dynamic," explains Dr Michael Vogelsang, Professor of Economics. Compared to previous waves of automation, even well-educated people with desk jobs are confronted with competition from AI systems. "The work processes and qualification requirements in corporate areas such as accounting or controlling are changing massively due to AI," says Professor Dr Isabel Lausberg, professor of Business Administration, citing an example from her research. However, this can also benefit humans, for example when AI is used to make work processes easier while at the same time improving the results.

The relevance of the topic was highlighted by the welcoming address of North Rhine-Westphalia's Minister of Economic Affairs, Mona Neubaur. Together with HRW President Prof Dr.-Ing. Susanne Staude, Neubaur welcomed around 70 researchers from the fields of economics, business and computer science on Monday. NRW is to be developed into one of Germany's leading locations for applied AI. The aim is to advance the use of AI, especially in small and medium-sized enterprises, through efficient knowledge transfer from research to business as well as qualification and awareness-raising. "The HRW makes an important contribution to the future viability of the western Ruhr region. Thanks to its practice-oriented research and teaching, it supports companies in the region in successfully shaping the digital and ecological transformation," explained NRW Economics Minister Mona Neubaur.

Participants from Brazil, Canada, South Africa and several European countries came to Mülheim for the international conference. Other scientists were connected via video conference from the USA and Japan, among others.

The renowned keynote speakers at the conference included Prof. Vincent Conitzer, PhD, Carnegie Mellon University and Oxford University; Prof. John-Stewart Gordon, PhD, Lithuanian University of Health Science in Kaunas; Prof. Dr. Justus Haucap, Director of the Düsseldorf Institute for Competition Economics (DICE) at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf and Prof. Dr. Björn Schuller from the University of Augsburg and Imperial College London.

"A really well done conference on AI organised by Ruhr West University of Applied Sciences!" "A successful conference organised by Ruhr West University of Applied Sciences on the Economic Perspectives of Artificial Intelligence!" The feedback from the conference guests was consistently positive. Very special thanks of the initiators, Lausberg and Vogelsang, go to Joshua Zander, a research assistant at the HRW, who was responsible for the organisation.

Thanks also go to the German Research Foundation (DFG), which supported the organisation of this international scientific event.

The programme of the conference "AI in Business and Economics - Economic Perspectives on Artificial Intelligence" (EPEAI) can be found on the website www.epeai.com.

The conference papers and results of the sessions will be published in an open-access volume by DeGruyter.