Our AI-Chatbot is Like a Team Member
Under the guidance of Friedrich, Senior Enterprise Data Specialist at SKIDATA, creative minds from various departments are collaborating to explore the potential of generative AI.
When the excitement around artificial intelligence began about 18 months ago, Friedrich started experimenting with various language models. As the Senior Enterprise Data Specialist, he was keen to understand both the potential benefits and risks that these tools could bring to SKIDATA. Friedrich, who hails from Lower Austria, now heads the internal AI Community tasked with developing new opportunities that genuinely add value to the company.
Friedrich, how did the AI Community come about at SKIDATA?
After I presented the results of my tests to the company, the response was overwhelmingly positive, leading us to launch a pilot project as a proof of concept. It was very successful, which encouraged more and more of my colleagues to approach me with ideas. There was huge interest, so we set up the AI Community under the motto “learn fast, fail fast.” The learning curve is still very steep, even though this group has been around for a year now.
This must have been a new experience for you as well.
Absolutely! The advancements in artificial intelligence in recent years have been remarkable. My professional journey began in automotive and mechanical engineering at the HTL technical college in Steyr, followed by a degree in statistics in Linz and an MBA in international business in Australia. When I joined SKIDATA in 2015, AI was still in its infancy. My exposure to various areas from business intelligence and reporting to digital data and architecture has increasingly heightened my awareness of AI. It’s crucial for us to have our own AI Community.
What does the AI Community work on specifically?
Our team focuses on developing generative AI applications and chatbots tailored to the specific needs of SKIDATA solutions. For instance, we have an AI chatbot that supports technical assistance in the Stadium & Arena segment. The goal is to centralize and simplify access to data and information that was previously scattered across different systems within the company. Our AI chatbot acts like a team member you can talk to, who is familiar with all the company's documentation, and who knows where what data can be found.
What does the team hope to achieve with its projects?
We create specific applications to demonstrate how AI can add real value. Through our flagship initiatives, we reveal the potential of AI to everyone in the company.
Who belongs to the AI Community?
The team is made up of ten passionate AI enthusiasts from various departments. We welcome anyone interested, whether they’re from IT, technical departments, or marketing. Our group is an international mix of experienced professionals and fresh talent. The only requirements are curiosity and a desire to innovate.
How often do you meet up?
We hold a team meeting in Grödig every two weeks, which colleagues from other locations can also attend online. These meetings are brief, lasting about half an hour, and we discuss current projects and developments. They’re very important because they allow us to continuously learn from each other and discover new synergies.
What is your role as team leader?
My role is to provide direction and coordinate projects. Working in data and digitization puts me at the intersection of the technical and business sides, which aligns perfectly with my work in AI. Everything we do is grounded in data from a wide variety of sources within the company. My aims are to harness this data for SKIDATA and develop innovative solutions.
What are the long-term goals of the AI Community?
Our vision is to create a comprehensive AI solution for the entire company that effectively integrates individual use cases. Communication is key, as we want to address the diverse needs within the company and ensure everyone can benefit from AI. A long-term goal for AI at SKIDATA is to dynamically adapt to different requirements, paving the way for future innovations.