TalTechi Department of Software senior lecturer
Estonia needs a new leap in development in the age of artificial intelligence – and the key figures in this are AI engineers who know how to develop and steer future technologies.
Tiger Leap gave Estonians a serious digital advantage for years, but the leap has now been made – and the tiger will no longer carry us forward at the same speed. Today, artificial intelligence gives momentum to those who know how to use it, but Estonian companies are starting to fall behind in this new leap.
The modern conception of artificial intelligence (AI) is commonly traced back to a summer school held at Dartmouth College in 1956, which brought together many of the researchers who would later become leaders in the field. Already then, discussions were underway about whether machines could, within a few generations, reach human-level intelligence.
History took a different course, and belief in AI’s development waned several times – the so-called AI winters. Today, however, the rapid progress of language models has opened up exciting new possibilities, while also raising concerns: what work will people do in the future? What skills will the labour market require?
What can we assume about the future?
This article is based on the best knowledge and most recent developments as of early 2025. While the future cannot be predicted with certainty, one thing is clear – due to the increasing use of AI, the coming years will bring a significant demand for experts who can develop, assess, manage and lead these systems.
While the future cannot be predicted with certainty, one thing is clear – due to the increasing use of AI, the coming years will bring a significant demand for experts who can develop, assess, manage and lead these systems.
The IT sector has been a flagship of Estonian exports for years. In 2023, Estonia’s ICT sector exported services worth €3.6 billion, accounting for 12% of total exports. In the third quarter of 2024, the average gross monthly salary in the information and communication sector was €3,506 – nearly 1.8 times higher than the national average.
According to Statistics Estonia, 1.6% of companies used machine learning in 2023, and by 2024 this had already risen to 3.8%. At least one AI technology was used by 5.1% of companies in 2023 and by 13.9% in 2024. For comparison: in 2024, the figure was 27.6% in Denmark, 25.1% in Sweden, and 24.4% in Finland; the EU average was 13.5%.
Although we are just above the EU average, we should be aiming higher. Yet it is unlikely that we will reach the 30% mark this year – doing so would require a shift in mindset, and AI engineers will play a key role in achieving this, as they understand how to develop and steer machine learning and neural network processes.
AI systems have recently undergone both a qualitative and quantitative leap. The result is an entirely new level of technologies that affect our daily and working lives – even if we are not directly using artificial intelligence ourselves. Photo: Zhenyu Luo / Unsplash
The developer’s role is changing
The role of the developer is evolving. Artificial intelligence can now generate code smoothly – code it has seen before and which is used in many applications. It can solve precisely defined tasks when given clear instructions. The result is only as good as the clarity of the prompt.
That’s why it’s said that instead of writing in programming languages, we now write in “prompt language.” However, for AI to understand what is expected of it, a person must be able to structure the problem. While learning to prompt may be easier than learning to program, programming skills help guide AI more effectively.
For AI to understand what is expected of it, a person must be able to structure the problem.
When working with language models, one must also be able to break down a problem into parts and describe those components in a structured way. A command like “Write a programme to plan one’s activities” can mean very different things to different people. That’s why the problem must be precisely defined – this isn’t a shortcoming of AI but a natural limitation: the human must be able to articulate what is needed.
AI enables developers to assemble smaller components more quickly. But someone still has to check their quality – which requires knowledge of development, testing and the problem domain. Moreover, software development also includes identifying needs and continuously refining the product based on feedback.
Artificial intelligence. Image: Getty Images / Unsplash
The leap begins in schools
To cultivate AI engineers, we need to focus on broad-based preparation. Young people wishing to work in the IT field must make conscious choices – they will need deep knowledge of programming and project management, but also communication skills, analytical thinking, and adaptability. As the field evolves rapidly, an AI engineer must be ready to engage in continuous learning.
Higher education must keep pace with this shift. It is crucial to provide a strong technical foundation that also supports creativity – only then can a person realise their potential alongside AI. That is why we have launched a new bachelor’s programme at TalTech, where students can specialise in the fundamentals of developing and managing artificial intelligence alongside computer science.
Artificial intelligence is a transformative technology. Its rapid adoption across all areas of life could give Estonia a significant competitive edge and lead to the next major leap – the one entrepreneurs, the president, and educational visionaries are already talking about. If schools and universities play their part, then the AI spring could truly become a launchpad for everyone.
Artificial intelligence is a transformative technology. Its rapid adoption across all areas of life could give Estonia a significant competitive edge and lead to the next major leap forward.
