We need new "Elements of AI" – Embracing lifelong learning in the AI era

Finland has always punched above its weight in technology and education.

With the success story of Elements of AI, we certainly did it. In 2018, the University of Helsinki and MinnaLearn launched an online course designed to demystify AI for everyone, from teenagers to grandparents. This was a great example of what our small country tends to do here in the cold North. We start small (and humbly, because that's the Finnish way) and decide to educate 1 percent of our nation's population about the basics of AI.

We did not expect the Elements of AI course to become so popular that it would transcend our small nations' borders. Faced with huge demand, the course was translated into 26 languages, becoming a global phenomenon in just a few years after its initial release. By making the course available to everyone in the EU, millions of people worldwide have benefitted from it.

Fast-forward to today, and the landscape has dramatically transformed. We are now in an era dominated by AI in various fields. The evolution was led by the ChatGPT, along with its counterparts like Copilot, Claude, and Gemini, showcasing the wide integration of AI into our lives and work. Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, and Firefly stand out in the field of image generation. If you work for an industrial company and you've watched NVIDIA's latest product demo, you know that it won't be long before we all have new colleagues – AI-powered robots.

This brings me to an alarming question: How can we keep pace with the advancements and endless updates in the field of AI?

The answer is clear: We need new 'Elements of AI' momentum. I suggest starting small and local: embrace the new technology with your peers, family, or colleagues.

This grassroots approach could revolutionise how we perceive and interact with AI daily. Starting at the community level—through computer clubs, local sports teams, or even family activities—demystifies AI and transforms it from a distant, complex technology into a practical tool for everyone. Imagine a scenario where your local football club uses AI to analyse the games from video and suggest improvements to team strategy, or your local gardening group employs AI to optimise planting schedules based on climate predictions. AI does not need to be something distant and scary – it can be a natural part of our problem-solving toolkit.

Moreover, the idea supports a culture of lifelong learning and curiosity. The pace at which AI is evolving means that what we learn today may need to be updated or expanded upon tomorrow. Creating spaces and communities encouraging experimentation and learning about AI can help keep everyone—regardless of age or profession— at the forefront of technological evolution.

Towards a smarter and better future.