Wolfgang Wahlster receives the Konrad Zuse Medal for well-deserved research!

Wolfgang Wahlster receives the Konrad Zuse Medal for well-deserved research!

The Society for Computer Science (GI) awards Professor Wolfgang Wahlster the renowned Konrad Zuse Medal for his extraordinary contributions to computer science. This honor will take place on September 17, 2025 as part of the Computer Science Festival 2025 in Potsdam. Wahlster, who was CEO of the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) from 1997 to 2019, is particularly recognized for his groundbreaking contributions in the field of speech dialogue systems, multimodal human-machine interaction and spontaneous speech interpreting systems.

The Konrad Zuse Medal has been awarded since 1987 to individuals who have made particular contributions to computer science. Christine Regitz, president of the GI, highlights Wahlster's significant influence as a scientist, university teacher and science manager. Under his leadership, the DFKI developed into the largest research institution for artificial intelligence in Germany and now employs over 1,000 people.

Creative pioneer of AI research

As one of the founding directors of the DFKI, Wahlster shaped the institution from the beginning. He not only expanded the DFKI into one of the largest AI research centers in the world, but also established it as a strong cooperation partner for industry. Wahlster initiated numerous lighthouse projects that advance the transfer of research into commercial applications.

His commitment to academic training is impressive. Wahlster has supervised a total of 77 dissertations, of which 22 of his doctoral students now hold their own chairs. This shows not only his influence on the next generation of scientists, but also his commitment to the scientific community.

Commitment beyond research

Wahlster is not only active in research. He is also involved in political and social debates, particularly on issues of data ethics. He is also a member of several prestigious scientific academies, including the Royal Swedish Nobel Prize Academy, the Leopoldina and acatech, which underpins his international reputation as a pioneer in computer science.

The official presentation of the medal will take place during a community dinner at the 2025 Computer Science Festival in Potsdam. Wahlster will also remain associated with DFKI as chief consultant, which illustrates his continued relevance in the rapidly developing world of artificial intelligence.

The award not only represents a personal success for Wahlster, but also reflects the importance of artificial intelligence and its development in today's society.

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further information about the meaning of the medal