Carsten Binnig

Prof. Dr. Carsten Binnig is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Technical University of Darmstadt and leads the “Systemic AI for decision support” research group at the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI). His work bridges database systems and artificial intelligence, focusing on enhancing data management through machine learning techniques and developing efficient systems for modern data challenges.

His research centers on “Systems for AI” (applying database techniques to support AI workloads) and “AI for Systems” (using machine learning to optimize traditional database operations). Key interests include query optimization with learned cost models, distributed stream processing, edge-cloud data management, and question answering over heterogeneous data sources like tables and text. He investigates how learned models can replace heuristic approaches in database systems to improve performance and adaptability.

Recent publications demonstrate a clear trend toward applying learned models to solve classical database challenges, particularly in cost estimation for query optimization and resource allocation in distributed environments. His work targets real-world applications in edge-cloud infrastructures and data lakes, emphasizing practical implementations that bridge theoretical advances with industry needs.

Scientific recognition includes:

• CIDR 2025 Best Paper Award for “Towards Foundation Database Models”

Prof. Binnig actively contributes to the Systems Group at TU Darmstadt, which drives research in data and AI systems as well as distributed networked systems. He leads the DFKI research unit developing systemic AI solutions for decision support, maintaining strong industry collaborations while advancing both theoretical frameworks and deployable systems in data management.