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Fo­cus on know­ledge man­age­ment: AI In­nov­a­tion Circle at HNU sheds light on RAG sys­tems

20.11.2024, Trans­fer :

The fourth edition of the AI Innovation Circle at Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences (HNU) focused on retrieval augmented generation (RAG) in knowledge management. At the invitation of the Institute for Digital Transformation (IDT), 35 company representatives and experts from the Ulm/Neu-Ulm region came together in the university's Innovation Space to discuss the opportunities and challenges of RAG systems.

The aim of this event was to shed light on RAG's innovative AI architecture and demonstrate the enormous potential of this technology in a corporate context. The focus was on the efficient use of existing knowledge, resource optimization and the successful integration of RAG into existing business processes.

Topic focus: Implementation and benefits of RAG systems in companies

Under the direction of HNU Professor Dr. Alexander Bartel, the session began with an introduction to the diverse areas of application of RAG systems. In his practical presentation entitled “RAG systems and their possible applications in companies”, Prof. Dr. Bartel showed how these systems efficiently process company data by combining knowledge retrieval and generative AI. This gives employees quick access to precise and always up-to-date answers.

Best practice examples and insights from the industry

A particular highlight of the event was the presentation by Simon Grimme and Daniel Jahnke from Mercedes-Benz Tech Innovation on strategies for increasing the efficiency of RAG systems. They illustrated how RAG models can be designed in a resource-saving and sustainable way and presented practical solutions for efficient data processing. Carolin Esslinger from P19, Ulm, then spoke about the challenges and solutions for implementing RAG systems and presented specific use cases. This gave the participants valuable insights into potential hurdles and how to overcome these challenges efficiently.

Use case “Generative AI agents at WashTec”

Elmar Baumgart and Carsten Klees from WashTec provided another practical example with their presentation on use cases for generative AI in service processes. They showed how AI agents at WashTec support knowledge management and improve the organization and efficiency of processes. The participants learned about the advantages that generative AI offers in optimizing service processes and discussed further possible applications together.

Outlook and the future of the AI Innovation Circle

Further events and training courses are planned as part of the AI Innovation Circle in order to promote the dissemination of practice-oriented AI solutions in the region. “The AI Innovation Circle offers a valuable platform for the exchange between science and practice,” explains Prof. Dr. Alexander Bartel. “Through intensive dialog and collaboration, we are helping to shape the future of AI and give companies access to crucial knowledge.”  

About the AI Innovation Circle

The AI Innovation Circle at HNU is an initiative of Prof. Dr. Klaus Lang, Prof. Dr. Jens Kolb and Prof. Dr. Alexander Bartel, which was launched in 2023. The aim is to bring together companies from the region to jointly research and apply the transformative potential of artificial intelligence. The AI Innovation Circle promotes the exchange of information on the latest technological developments and supports the implementation of innovative solutions for the digitalization and optimization of business processes.

Contact 
Prof. Dr. Klaus Lang