KI and careers: How we shape the working world of tomorrow shaping the working world of tomorrow

Mentoring stage talk at the EXCELLENCE 2025 job fair

How is AI anchored in your field of work?

Vanessa Maria Petschk: I am Research Impact Manager at the Know-Center, a research and competence center for data science and artificial intelligence. The Know-Center conducts both basic and industrial research and is closely linked to TU Graz.
My job is to analyze the results of research projects and plan their exploitation. This means that I look at how we can put the findings from funded projects such as FFG or EU projects into practice - be it through new applications, market analyses or integration into other projects.

A large part of my work consists of reading and understanding scientific papers in order to assess the impact of the research. This involves not only economic, but also social and environmental aspects. I also work in project management and support the exploitation of results in large EU projects. AI plays a central role here, as it helps us to analyze complex data and develop innovative solutions.

Dominik Freinhofer: I am self-employed and offer AI training courses for teachers, universities and companies. My goal is to show people how to use generative AI tools such as chatbots effectively and responsibly.
At the University of Graz, I am a lecturer in the micro-degree program 'Artificial Intelligence and Society', where I teach the ethical and educational aspects of AI. In my self-employment, I focus on training teachers and educators, as I know from my own experience how great the need for knowledge about AI in schools is.

AI has enormous potential to improve teaching and relieve the burden on teachers. With AI tools, I can differentiate my lessons for 30 students in a very short space of time - something that would hardly be possible without AI. My goal is to provide teachers with the tools and strategies they need to use AI sensibly and effectively.

Christopher Pollin: I am the founder and managing director of Digital Humanities Craft OG, a company that offers IT services for humanities research projects and the cultural sector.
We develop databases, platforms and digital work processes for museums, archives and libraries. One example is the 'Stefan Zweig Digital' project, which brings together the entire estate of the writer Stefan Zweig on a digital platform.
KI plays an important role in our work, especially in the processing and structuring of complex data. Historical sources often contain fuzzy information that can be transformed into structured data using AI models such as Large Language Models.

What challenges are there in day-to-day work with AI?

Vanessa Maria Petschk: One of the biggest challenges is to present the results of research in an understandable and practical way. The findings are often very theoretical and it takes a lot of work to translate them into practice. Another point is the collaboration with various stakeholders - from universities to companies and funding bodies. It's important to consider the different needs and expectations and find solutions that make sense for everyone involved.

Christopher Pollin: In the digital humanities, the complexity of the data is often very challenging. Another point is the collaboration with customers from the cultural sector. It's important to understand their needs and develop solutions that make sense both technically and professionally. AI helps us to overcome these challenges, but it takes a lot of sensitivity to find the right approaches.

How did you start your career?

Dominik Freinhofer: My path was not straightforward. path was not straightforward. After my studies in sales and marketing I realized that I wanted to do something that had added added value for society. That's why I became a teacher. During my time at the school, I then realized how great the potential potential of AI in the classroom. I started to offer training courses for colleagues and the demand was so great that I started my own business. I set up my own business.

Christopher Pollin: I have been working in the field of gained my first experience with digital projects while studying history and digital humanities. experience with digital projects. After my doctoral studies, I also decided to set up my own company in order to company to independently implement the services I previously offered at the university. independently implement the services I had previously offered at the university. 

Which skills and competencies will be particularly important in the future be particularly important in the future to successfully integrate AI into our professional lives?

Vanessa Maria Petschk: I think that innovation and creativity will play a decisive role in the future. will play a decisive role in the future. AI can take on many tasks, but the ability to develop new ideas and solve problems in a creative way remains a human strength. It is important not only to learn what is put in front of you, but also to understand how systems work and systems work and to develop your own solutions. In addition, it is essential to remain curious and to continuously further education. The AI industry is developing rapidly, and new models and new models and technologies are constantly coming onto the market. Anyone who is prepared to deal with these innovations will be successful in the long term.

Dominik Freinhofer: I believe that transfer skills and the ability to combine different areas are becoming increasingly important. It's not just about mastering a specific skill, but also about applying it to other areas and finding innovative solutions.
Another key point is the ability to understand AI and use it responsibly. We need to learn how to use AI in our respective domains without neglecting our own expertise. It's important that we don't rely entirely on AI, but develop our own skills and combine them with the technology.

Christopher Pollin: I see the future of work as a combination of human and AI skills. While AI is getting better and better, the human element - such as communication, empathy and dealing with other people - will remain a key factor.
At the same time, it will be important to develop a deep understanding of how AI works. Programming skills are a great advantage, but the ability to use AI tools effectively is also becoming increasingly relevant. I therefore recommend familiarizing yourself with the basics of programming and data analysis, as this greatly expands the possibilities offered by AI.
In the end, it will depend on how well we can combine our own skills with the capabilities of AI. Those who master these interfaces will play a key role in the working world of tomorrow.

What tips do you have for entering the AI industry? three experts emphasize that there is no standard career path in the AI industry. Rather, the path is individual and characterized by personal interests, experiences and decisions. Nevertheless, there are some tips that can make it easier to get started:
-    Further training: Use courses and programs to deepen your knowledge of AI and programming languages.
-    Unsolicited applications: Dare to apply even if there are no open positions. This often opens up new opportunities.
-    Flexibility: Working with artificial intelligence is dynamic. Be open to new ways of doing things and be prepared to be open to new ways and willing to develop further.
-    Internships and part-time jobs: Gain practical practical experience to find out which areas suit you, and build up a network.

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Conclusion: The role of AI in the working world of tomorrow 

The The experiences of Vanessa Maria Petschk, Dominik Freinhofer and Christopher Pollin show that artificial intelligence (AI) will change our world of work in the long term. AI is a transformative technology that is being used in almost all professional fields and human skills such as creativity and problem-solving abilities.

The experts emphasize that while AI can automate many tasks, the ability to can automate many tasks, the ability to develop new ideas and overcome complex complex challenges remains crucial. Transfer skills, i.e. the application of knowledge to new contexts contexts, are becoming increasingly important in order to fully exploit the potential of AI.

The The integration of AI offers enormous opportunities, but also requires continuous training and a willingness to engage with new technologies. technologies. Those who remain curious and interfaces between people and technology will be successful in the working world of tomorrow. will be successful in the working world of tomorrow.

The experts

Vanessa Maria Petschk studied Environmental Systems Science with a focus on Economics at the University of Graz University of Graz and subsequently completed a Master's degree in Political and Empirical Economics. After working for Saubermacher and the Integrated Consulting Group, she is now Research Impact Manager at the Know-Center, a research and competence center for data science and Artificial Intelligence 

Dominik Freinhofer started his academic career with a his academic career with a bachelor's degree in Sales and Marketing at the University of Applied Sciences Steyr, before he studied at the University of Graz English and History as well as a Master's degree in Applied Ethics. In addition to his work as a university lecturer at various universities, he is self-employed and offers AI training courses for teachers and companies.

Christopher Pollin studied History and Digital Humanities at the University of Graz and completed a joint-degree master's program in European Media Arts and Cultural Heritage. After completing his doctorate in Digital Humanities he founded Digital Humanities Craft OG, a company that provides IT services for research projects in the humanities and the cultural sector. the cultural sector.

Tanja Baumgartner, Coordinator Alumni Management and Career Mentoring, hosted the which took place on November 12, 2025 on the mentoring stage as part of the This article was created with the help of aTrain and UniGPT.