The focus was on agent-based systems, industrial data ecosystems, and Europe's opportunity to translate research into application and value creation more quickly.
For Andreas Kugi, one thing is clear: current developments in artificial intelligence mark not just a gradual technological leap, but a fundamental change for industry and engineering. "I would compare what is currently happening in industry to the introduction of electricity," said Kugi in his opening presentation at the SALZ Festival. His presentation focused on the question of how generative and agent-based AI can change not only software development but entire industrial processes in the future. "Today, you can build agents that observe, reflect, decide, plan, and execute," said Kugi. "This will allow you to not only write code in the future, but also design systems."
At the same time, Kugi emphasized that industrial AI needs much more than computing power alone. Data ecosystems, governance, domain knowledge, and the ability to systematically make machines and processes AI-ready are crucial. "Data alone is not enough," said Kugi. This is precisely where a great opportunity for Europe lies: "In my view, these methods in Agentic AI and Physical AI are a huge opportunity for Europe."
AIT is bringing this perspective not only to research and development, but also to the development of European AI infrastructures. Together with Advanced Computing Austria (ACA), AIT heads AI Factory Austria AI:AT, Austria's national AI factory within the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking, supported by a broad Austrian consortium. The aim is to give startups, SMEs, research, and industry better access to AI infrastructure, know-how, and implementation expertise.
The appearance at the SALZ Festival thus also made clear what AIT stands for: the combination of excellent research, technological implementation, and industrial application—and the aspiration to translate new AI potential into European value creation more quickly.