In CeMM’s 7th S.M.A.R.T. Lecture, Hermann Hauser held a fascinating talk on how “Machine learning is changing everything” – from every day communication technologies to transportation habits to business strategies. 

“Machine learning is the most powerful tool that mankind developed so far” – with these words, Hermann Hauser, physicist and extremely successful serial entrepreneur at Cambridge, opened his Lecture on one of the fastest developing technologies of our times. In contrast to similar sounding but refuted predictions on artificial intelligence, Hermann Hauser emphasized, the progress of machine learning clearly shows the real impact that this tool soon will have and already has on everyone’s life. 

Speech recognition in mobile phones, face recognition programs or recommender systems of commercial platforms are just some recent examples for the capabilities of machine learning. A key feature of this technology responsible for its outstanding success: instead of following pre-programmed rules, the system learns from big data. Overruling the deterministic character of classic programming, machine learning is based on probabilities that allow to make guesses and decisions. As quality, size and availability of data is constantly increasing, machine learning will improve and pervade more and more areas of our life, Hermann Hauser is convinced. Moreover, it will change the way business is made and affect a broad range of industries. 

While this new technology will offer humanity a broad range of innovations and advantages, Hermann Hauser also pointed out the risks: “The genie is definitely out of the bottle – now we must figure out how to ensure that super intelligent machines embody human values” he emphasized. Furthermore, they pose a major challenge for society: intelligent machines might put more than 50 % of jobs be in danger. However, at the same time machine learning opens up unique business opportunities, especially in the service and health care sector with its dramatic increase in high-throughput and sensor technologies.

Having funded more than 20 technology companies, including outstanding success stories like Advanced RISC Machines (ARM) that licenses the architecture for the most widely used microchips for smart phones, Hermann Hauser is an expert in identifying and foreseeing future trends. With his S.M.A.R.T. lecture on machine learning, he gave us a thrilling overview of the latest developments and presented some eye-opening features of this revolutionary technology. Our warmest thanks to Herman Hauser for a wonderful and illuminating evening at CeMM!