This isn't just science fiction: the IT director talks about AI

The HSLU Department of Computer Science in Rotkreuz is celebrating its tenth anniversary. In an interview with the Zuger Zeitung newspaper, Director Sarah Hauser discusses how AI is changing studies and everyday life – and why she isn't afraid of future developments.
 

As if by magic, the beige blinds hum down as the midday sun streams through the windows of Suurstoffi 1 in Rotkreuz. "Artificial intelligence is at work here," explains Sarah Hauser, Director of the Department of Computer Science at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. The building is controlled so that the blinds lower in hot weather to prevent excessive energy consumption for cooling. “But luckily, as a human, I still have the final say here,” she says with a smile, and restarts it with the push of a button, so that the room doesn’t get too dark.

This scene also symbolises a question that runs through the conversation: how has AI developed in recent years, and where must humans retain control? The Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU) has had its Department of Computer Science at the Rotkreuz campus since 2016.

Sarah Hauser, as Director of the Department of Computer Science, you are experiencing the rapid developments in the field first-hand. What has changed in the past ten years?
Sarah Hauser: Computer science has become more diverse, and has grown significantly into all areas of business and life. With generative AI such as ChatGPT, there has been another significant surge in momentum. Computer science has become much more directly relevant to all of our homes - and in a very accessible way. Today, everyone interacts with these tools quite naturally.

AI can do an incredible amount today, and can even write code independently. Is a computer science degree still worthwhile then?
Yes, absolutely. Individual tasks within this job will be replaced, but not the job itself. Even if AI writes some of the code in the future, someone will still be needed to assess whether it is sound and maintainable, and whether security and data protection guidelines are being followed. It's like using an AI writing tool: even when using it, you still need to know what makes a good text. Critical thinking, ethical considerations and interdisciplinary collaboration will also become more important. These are topics we also teach our students in our degree programs.

When I think about ethics, Robert Oppenheimer, the "father" of the atomic bomb, comes to mind. As a researcher, do you consider the responsibility you bear for the future use of your findings?
We must take this responsibility seriously, for example in the area of ​​cybersecurity: AI can be very useful there, but it can also pose a great danger. AI makes cyberattacks easier and more effective, while, at the same time, the same technology can be used to prevent such attacks. Our experts are addressing both sides to increase the security of future systems. Another example is the principle of "Secure by Design." This means that questions about data protection and data security are addressed right at the beginning when designing a system - not building a system first and only thinking about security at the end. This requires technical, but also ethical, expertise.

Sarah Hauser has worked at the HSLU Department of Computer Science since 2021 and has headed it since September 2025.    Photo: supplied/Priska Ketterer
 

But what if autonomous systems make decisions themselves with the help of AI, for example, drones that can select targets themselves? How can we prevent the technology from becoming autonomous?
There is a certain risk involved at the moment. People are somewhat blinded by this technology, or at least have incredibly high expectations of it. But at some point, the moment of responsibility arrives – and I think that moment has been here for a long time. Humans still determine the use of this technology.
Regulating and controlling everything is probably impossible – especially in an international context. But what we can do is train people to understand how to use the technology, to critically evaluate the results of AI, and to intervene when something goes wrong.

How do you teach students how to use AI responsibly?
Students are allowed to use AI, but they must consider its advantages and disadvantages. AI can also have positive effects in the classroom: students can use it as a learning coach and ask questions if they don't understand something. We've also adapted the exams. There are sections that are solved with AI and others that aren't. In addition, oral exams and project-based work are gaining importance. Students remain responsible for their final work.

If we were to meet again in 2036: what should be different at the Department of Computer Science, and what topics will be important besides AI?
I'm confident that we will have once again been bold, recognising future technological topics early on and anchoring them in undergraduate and graduate education and applied research. One important topic will be "Physical AI," the combination of artificial intelligence with hardware. But we're also working on quantum technologies: how secure will our current systems be when powerful quantum computers arrive? And then there are some more outlandish topics.

For example?
In our future series "10 Years Ahead," my colleague talks about an "intelligence layer" around the Earth and in space that connects AI systems and devices. It could make independent decisions, for example, regarding transportation, energy, or agriculture. We're not planning a degree programme for that right away, but we're staying on top of such developments. This isn't just science fiction.

Don't you find such a concept frightening?
There's absolutely no need to be afraid of it. Such an infrastructure would be invaluable in a crisis. If the technical infrastructure down here were to collapse, we could fall back on it. To a certain extent, you lose your fear as you become more competent. That's why I would recommend further training in technologies like artificial intelligence to everyone. Perhaps now is the time to let go of the statement, "I'm just not tech-savvy." It's fascinating to discover how AI works and why its answers are sometimes distorted, not quite right, or even incredibly charming.

Further information:
The department has grown considerably
Since its founding in 2016, the department has grown from 521 to 1,316 students, and from 69 to 306 employees, according to its own figures. The bachelor's degree programmes "Information & Cyber Security" and "Immersive Technologies," among others, were launched under the founding director René Hüsler. 80 students will begin the Bachelor's program in "Information & Cyber Security” in the autumn semester of 2026 - more than in any other Bachelor's programme offered by the department.

The continuing education program also grew significantly: from 12 to 102 courses with approximately 1,000 participants per year.

As the Zuger Zeitung newspaper recently reported, the unemployment rate for Bachelor's graduates from universities of applied sciences in the fields of engineering and IT was 6.4% one year after graduation. This is according to data from the Federal Statistical Office, compiled from surveys of the 2024 graduation class.

According to HSLU, around 80% of the department's graduates surveyed would choose the same educational path again.