Will AI replace us? Research prize winner with a clear forecast
- 10.04.2025
- General
Lisa-Maria Schedlberger was awarded the research prize for her master's thesis and gave a highly acclaimed speech in Tokyo.
How does generative AI influence the software development process? Lisa-Maria Schedlberger, MSc, dedicated her Master's thesis to this question and was awarded a prize for her work. In an exclusive video interview with her, we shed light on the opportunities and limitations of AI - and talk about potential dangers.
Lisa-Maria Schedlberger has had an intense but also exciting few weeks. First, the graduate of the part-time degree program Web Engineering & IT Solutions was awarded the research prize by the Tyrolean Chamber of Commerce (WKT) for her outstanding master's thesis at the beginning of December. Then it was off on a plane to Japan. There she gave a highly acclaimed presentation at the International Conference on Modern Education Technologies in Tokyo.
Lisa-Maria Schedlberger reveals more about her research and personal assessments in an exclusive video interview with Lisa Berke, MSc, Head of Communications at FH Kufstein Tirol.
“For me personally, the fact that my thesis won an award is confirmation that there is currently a major upheaval in the field of software development with regard to new technologies,” explains Lisa-Maria. Her thesis dealt with generative AI systems such as ChatGPT and other GenAI models. These artificial intelligences (AI) can independently generate new content such as text, images or code. The focus was on how they could change the software development process - by making complex development tasks easier and at the same time lowering entry barriers for young professionals.
Technological support instead of replacement
A central point in Lisa-Maria's research is the question of whether AI could replace software developers in the future. Her conclusion is reassuring: “AI will not replace us humans, but rather serve as another tool to help us work more efficiently and creatively.” She particularly emphasizes the benefits for newcomers: “Especially at the beginning of your career, it helps to have a virtual mentor like GenAI at your side. This technology offers targeted support and makes it easier to enter the complex world of software development.”
Prof. (FH) Dipl.-Inf. Karsten Böhm, who supervised Lisa-Maria's master's thesis, also sees great potential: “Generative AI can build a bridge between technical expertise and practical implementation. The approaches developed by Lisa-Maria show how such tools can be used effectively to make developers' everyday lives easier and improve the quality of the results.”
TRUST IN YOUR OWN FUTURE
Lisa-Maria reports that her work has also given her personal confidence in her own professional future. “You often hear in the media that developers could be replaced by technology. But my research clearly shows that the industry needs specialists who have both technical expertise and a deep understanding of customer needs.”
Lisa-Maria Schedlberger explores the famous torii gates of the Fushimi Inari shrine in Kyoto during her stay in Japan on the occasion of the ICMET.
It also shows that AI is not just a tool, but can also make working in software development more attractive. The opportunity to focus on creative tasks while repetitive activities are supported by AI could attract more people to this career field.
INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION AND OUTLOOK
After her trip to Tokyo, Lisa-Maria is excited about the future. “The field of generative AI remains extremely exciting. I'm curious to see how these technologies will develop and what new opportunities they offer us.” Her goal: to continue working on innovative projects and explore the limits of the technology.
With her research, Lisa-Maria has not only achieved academic success, but has also made an important contribution to the discussion about the future of software development. Her findings show that the combination of human creativity and technological support creates new opportunities - for developers and the industry as a whole.