Lecture at RISC Software GmbH with Prof. Martina Seidl
Trust is good – certificates are better.
Hagenberg. How can we ensure that software delivers reliable results – even if it is so complex that it cannot be fully understood? Prof. Martina Seidl, Head of the Institute for Symbolic Artificial Intelligence at the Johannes Kepler University Linz, addressed this exciting question at an internal lecture on July 9, 2025 at the premises of RISC Software GmbH.
Under the title “Never trust your solver: Certificates for SAT”, Prof. Seidl spoke about the challenges of using automated test procedures in software development. The focus was on the question: How can so-called SAT solvers – programs that solve logical problems – deliver comprehensible and verifiable results? And how can it be ensured that these programs also work reliably when they are used in safety-critical areas?
Impulses for the InProSSA project and practical use in software analysis
The concepts presented are not only theoretically exciting, but also directly relevant to everyday work. The recently launched research project InProSSA (Industrial Problem Solving using Symbolic and Subsymbolic AI) is a particular focus. It investigates new methods for solving complex software problems – by combining two approaches to artificial intelligence: symbolic AI, which works with clear rules, and subsymbolic AI, which is based on data-based learning.
“I am delighted that the topic of certificates for SAT solvers has met with so much interest. Collaboration with partners in particular shows how important it is to put research results into practice – and vice versa, ” says Prof. Martina Seidl.
Research that works – internally and beyond
“Symbolic computing is not a niche tool, but a central foundation of modern artificial intelligence – and its importance will grow rapidly in the coming years,” emphasizes Wolfgang Freiseisen, Managing Director of RISC Software GmbH. “Reliable industrial AI needs more than just neural networks – it needs symbolic computing. Especially in software development, it is becoming the key to explainable, verifiable and trustworthy AI systems.”
Prof. Martina Seidl is an internationally recognized expert in the field of automatic reasoning and symbolic artificial intelligence. She is also a key researcher in the Bilateral AI project.
Links
- InProssa project: https://www.risc-software.at/referenzprojekte/forschungsprojekt-inprossa/
- Institute for Symbolic AI, Johannes Kepler University Linz: https://www.jku.at/institut-fuer-symbolic-artificial-intelligence/
Company information RISC Software GmbH
RISC Software GmbH has been a leader in applied research and product development for over 30 years. As a non-university research institution, the company develops innovative software solutions in areas such as AI, digital twins, simulation and optimization – from basic research to practical applications. RISC Software successfully accompanies organizations in industry and medicine on their digital journey.
A particular focus is on the continuous development of employees – through targeted further training, interdisciplinary exchange and close cooperation with the scientific community.
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