Research at L3S: Present and Future

On the Path Towards Trustworthy AI

Artificial intelligence is reshaping how we work, learn and live — faster than any technological shift before it. When we launched the L3S 2030 strategy process in 2023, one thing quickly became clear: we could not simply build on past successes. The global AI ecosystem is in motion, innovation cycles are accelerating, and the conditions in which research unfolds are shifting just as rapidly.

A Strong Starting Point

The L3S enters this new phase from a position of remarkable strength. Outstanding publications, competitive funding, impactful transfer projects and a dense network of international collaborations all underline the centre’s scientific and strategic relevance. With CAIMed, the AI service centre KISSKI and the European innovation hub DAISEC, the L3S is investing in research and transfer initiatives that set clear signals for the years ahead — visible well beyond Europe.

Generative AI: Rapid Momentum, New Realities

Few developments have progressed as dramatically as generative AI. The direction of travel may not have surprised us, but the sheer speed and breadth of adoption certainly have. Within just two years, generative AI reached 40 per cent user penetration — a milestone that took the internet 25 years and computers two decades, as a joint study from the Harvard Kennedy School and the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis illustrates.

In an environment marked by such momentum, strategic clarity becomes essential. Our strategy is therefore both ambitious and robust: defined by concrete goals, measurable milestones and clear indicators of success. At the same time, it deliberately remains flexible — a necessity in deep-tech fields where expectations rise and fall quickly and innovation cycles shrink.

Trustworthy AI as Our Guiding Principle

At the heart of the L3S 2030 Strategy lies one central premise: trustworthy AI. AI systems must be dependable, transparent and fair — and users must feel confident relying on them. Only then can AI truly advance society: in personalised learning, precision medicine, smart manufacturing, autonomous mobility or public safety.

Innovation requires openness and room to experiment. Yet it must remain firmly aligned with legal and ethical principles — a commitment that is particularly strong in Europe. The EU AI Act provides a structured framework for this balance. For the L3S, it means pairing ambition with accountability, ensuring that AI research remains both pioneering and responsible.

A Strategy with Perspective

To put this vision into practice, the L3S has anchored key action areas in its Strategy 2030. We will expand our digital infrastructure, strengthen scientific excellence on an international scale and deepen collaborations across Europe and beyond. We aim to intensify knowledge and technology transfer and to share our research results more widely and more visibly.

Equally important is the human side of innovation: we are committed to nurturing diversity and outstanding talent, building a vibrant alumni network and ensuring that research funding remains strong and sustainable.

Where Our Research Is Heading

Alongside reinforcing existing strengths in research and teaching, we are opening new fields that will shape the next era of AI and data science. They form the thematic focus of this edition of Binaire:

1. Trustworthy AI
   Making AI transparent, robust and fair — for applications in fields ranging from medicine to industry.
2. Agentic and Embodied AI
   Developing AI systems that act autonomously and interact intelligently with the world around them.
3. Hybrid AI
   Combining symbolic and neural reasoning to create more precise, efficient and interpretable systems.
4. Medical Foundation Models
   Laying the groundwork for the next generation of AI-powered diagnostics and therapies.
5. Energy-Efficient AI
   Designing AI that consumes dramatically less energy without compromising performance.
6. AI for Science
   Building tools that accelerate scientific progress across disciplines, from physics to the social sciences.

A Reliable Compass for a Fast-Moving Field

The history of AI research shows that progress requires agility and foresight. The L3S will continue to advance its strengths while staying alert to new scientific, economic and societal signals. This balance — between stability and adaptability — has guided our development so far. It will continue to shape how we contribute to an AI future that serves the needs of industry, science and society.

Download the L3S 2030 Strategy