[T46] Research in the Age of Generative AI – Ingo Weber
What if generative AI changes scientific research even more profoundly than the internet did?
From discovering research questions to analyzing data, developing software, and publishing scientific results, generative AI is already transforming how research is conducted. But how can we harness its potential without compromising scientific integrity, transparency, and human responsibility?
On Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at 12:00 CEST, we welcome Prof. Dr. Ingo Weber, Director for AI & Innovation at the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and Professor at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), for the 47th edition of the TALK.CYBER Lecture Series:
Research in the Age of Generative AI
Drawing on an analysis of approximately 118 AI use cases across the research lifecycle, Ingo Weber will explore how generative AI is reshaping scientific work, from everyday research tasks to the emergence of autonomous AI agents.
The lecture will introduce concrete innovations, including an AI-powered Literature Search Agent and HIC-GOV (Human-in-Command Governance), an approach designed to combine intelligent AI assistance with scientific transparency, traceability, and human oversight.
And looking beyond today’s applications, Ingo will challenge us with five provocative theses about the future of research.
Will AI fundamentally change what it means to be a researcher? How much of the scientific process can we responsibly delegate to intelligent systems? And what should remain firmly under human control?
These questions concern all of us working in research and innovation.
Join us for a free, interactive online lecture and discussion!
📅 Wednesday, October 21, 2026
🕛 12:00–13:30 CEST (Paris/Berlin time)
🎥 Live on YouTube and LinkedIn
🌍 Free and open to everyone
🔗 Join and share: https://TALK.CYBERcni.fr/stream
Researchers, PhD students, research managers, AI practitioners, and everyone interested in the future of science are warmly invited.
Please share the invitation with colleagues and your research networks!
Abstract
Generative AI is fundamentally transforming research and is likely to shape scientific work as profoundly as the internet once did.
Today, it already supports nearly every phase of the research process, from developing new research questions and conducting literature reviews to methodology design, data analysis, programming, scientific writing, and publication.
Based on an analysis of approximately 118 AI use cases across the entire research lifecycle, Prof. Dr. Ingo Weber demonstrates how researchers can leverage generative AI productively and responsibly.
The talk provides insights into current Fraunhofer innovations, including an AI-powered Literature Search Agent that automatically identifies, evaluates, and recommends new scientific publications tailored to researchers’ specific interests.
It also introduces HIC-GOV (Human-in-Command Governance), a method-fidelity approach that enables the use of intelligent AI agents in scientific workflows while ensuring transparency, traceability, and human oversight.
Beyond practical applications, the lecture explores how scientific integrity, transparency, and accountability can be maintained in an increasingly AI-supported research environment.
Finally, five provocative theses about the future of research invite participants to reflect on how generative AI may transform science, scientific collaboration, and innovation in the years ahead.
Could the impact of generative AI on science ultimately exceed that of the internet?
Join the discussion and share your perspective!
About the Speaker
Prof. Dr. Ingo Weber is Full Professor of Information System Development and Operation at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Director for AI & Innovation at the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft.
Previously, he was Professor of Software and Business Engineering at Technische Universität Berlin (2019–2022). Before returning to Germany, he spent ten years in Sydney, Australia, conducting research at CSIRO, NICTA, and the University of New South Wales (UNSW).
He received his PhD from the University of Karlsruhe (now KIT) in 2009, while also working for SAP Research, and holds an M.Sc. from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
His research spans applied artificial intelligence, business process management, process mining, software architecture, DevOps, and blockchain.
He has authored numerous scientific publications and co-authored several textbooks, including:
- DevOps: A Software Architect’s Perspective (2015)
- Architecture for Blockchain Applications (2019)
- Engineering AI Systems – Architecture and DevOps Essentials (2025)
Combining academic research with leadership in applied industrial research, Ingo Weber brings a valuable perspective on the opportunities and responsibilities of integrating AI into scientific work.
About the TALK.CYBER Lecture Series
The TALK.CYBER Lecture Series is a free, international online event series bringing together experts from academia and industry to discuss emerging technologies, cybersecurity, and their impact on society.
Our goal is to stimulate informed dialogue across disciplines and communities, connecting researchers, practitioners, decision-makers, and the interested public.
Each edition combines an expert presentation with an interactive discussion, streamed live on YouTube and LinkedIn.
Join the conversation. Research, question, discuss!
Program, upcoming lectures, and newsletter subscription: https://TALK.CYBERcni.fr/
As host, I moderate discussions on topics ranging from cyber defense and digital sovereignty to AI security, privacy, and the future of resilient digital infrastructures. TALK.CYBER aims to make high-level cybersecurity expertise accessible to a broader audience while fostering dialogue between research, practice, and policy.
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