At the Smart City Exchange Forum, hundreds of city visionaries gathered to discuss how data, artificial intelligence, and collaboration could transform cities in Estonia and Europe into human-centered and sustainable environments.
Artificial Intelligence
There are thousands of apartment buildings in Estonia that are in urgent need of renovation, yet the daunting nature of the process often prevents people from taking the first step. This is precisely the problem Renokratt aims to solve – a smart tool designed to make renovation planning easier.
A transformation is underway in Estonia’s workforce – hybrid work has become the new normal, AI is changing the game, and leaders must adapt faster than ever before. Maria Kütt, an expert in human resources management, TalTech business administration doctoral candidate, head of the Top Civil Service Excellence Centre, and vice-chair of the board of the Estonian HR Association PARE, confirms that success lies in clear goals and smart communication.
If power lines could better account for actual weather conditions, they would be able to transmit more electricity. TalTech researcher Henri Manninen co-founded the technology company Gridraven, which specifically enhances electricity transmission capacity.
Incidents such as the recent DHL aircraft crash in Lithuania, initially suspected to involve Russian GPS interference, sparked widespread concern about hybrid warfare tactics. While investigations suggest that this incident may not have been a cyberattack or part of Russia's hybrid arsenal, it serves as a stark reminder of the constant threats posed by hybrid warfare and cyberattacks. To explore how nations like Estonia can navigate these challenges, Adrian Venables, senior lecturer at TalTech’s Center for Digital Forensics and Cyber Security, shared his expert insights.
The discussion on the future of higher education in Estonia highlighted the retreat of scientific thinking, questions about artificial intelligence, and the need to modernize the education system to bridge formulated knowledge with unformulated possibilities. One of the most intriguing moments of the discussion was a panel moderated by the Estonian president, Alar Karis, featuring Mart Saarma, Jaan Aru, Marju Lauristin, and Tiia Randma.
Artificial intelligence represents both a challenge and an opportunity, as it is transforming science, education, and everyday life. TalTech's AI lead, Sven Nõmm, emphasizes the need to find the best possible balance between promoting innovation and adhering to ethical principles.
The productivity of Estonian industrial companies falls below the European average. The use of artificial intelligence can boost productivity and competitiveness by making production management faster and more data-driven, writes Martin Rebane, AI expert at the AIRE Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics.
Generative artificial intelligence is a field whose adoption could bring revolutionary benefits – including in the world of finance.