Artificial intelligence tested during Taitaja

Emma Paananen’s work in the competition.

In Taitaja2024 Kuopio, the IT Network Systems Administration skill measured both technical competence and customer service skills. In the finals, the competitions solved various installation and maintenance challenges in Linux and Windows environments. Cloud service competence was also measured.

Skill category manager Marko Miettinen from Savo Vocational College says that artificial intelligence supported competitors in information retrieval. Instead of just using Google searches, competitors were allowed to use an AI-based search engine that, instead of simply listing hits, provides smart answers collected and modified from different destinations.

In addition, the skill area had a public test point where assignments from previous years’ WorldSkills, EuroSkills and Taitaja competitions had been collected. At the test point, competition guests got the chance to test how conveniently artificial intelligence could find answers to questions related to a topic by using the data bank.

AI is revolutionising information retrieval in the IT sector

"Artificial intelligence is a good buddy when you need precise answers to questions quickly and in real time. For example, nowadays the performance of IT support staff and ITC technicians is measured by how quickly they can solve customers’ problems."

Wikipedia explains artificial intelligence as a computer or software that can perform functions that are considered intelligent. Examples of such tasks include speech recognition, computer vision and translation between natural languages.

When asked whether artificial intelligence could function completely independently in the future, for example as a telephone helpline supporting an online operator, Miettinen says, "I have to believe so, yes."

"Artificial intelligence has developed and is developing in huge leaps."

For example, Microsoft Bing is much better than Google at answering whether a large TV fits in the back seat of Peugeot Fastback in its package. On the other hand, it is best to take what AI says with a grain of salt, as it collects information not only from reliable sources but also from a variety of discussion forums.

Artificial intelligence is a good sparring partner in the creative sector

How is artificial intelligence used in creative fields? Let's ask Milla Hentunen, who teaches the vocational qualification in media and visual expression at Savo Vocational College.

"It is a good discussion partner if you don’t have a colleague or another person nearby who could help you bounce ideas. In my experience, people often start questions to AI with 'if you happen to know'. Users may be more confident in results from Google because for so long, it has been the number one way of finding information", says Hentunen, who was responsible for the Graphic Design skill category in the Taitaja2024 competition.

Miettinen agrees.

"During your studies, you always have the teacher for support and you can easily ask for help when you face a tricky issue. This type of support no longer exists in the everyday life of a young professional, so it is good to have the ability to use artificial intelligence to find answers."

On the other hand, artificial intelligence is already improving the efficiency of work tasks in the creative sector, and it may be that during future recruitments, AI competence will be highly valued.

For this reason, it is important for students to understand the basics of artificial intelligence. At school, this is reflected in software competence. For example, in image editing software, new versions offer features that allow users to do in a few clicks what in earlier versions could only be achieved through much more work.

"I know marketing and communications professionals who produce, for example, keyword analyses, home page images and brand books largely through artificial intelligence. On the other hand, professional skills also include the ability to modify AI suggestions to suit both your own and the customer’s style", Hentunen says.

Human touch is here to stay

Traditional customer service will not disappear, either. For this reason, the category IT Network Systems Administration included a section in which the competitors’ skills were measured in a customer service situation. In this task, the competitors helped 'a pensioner install Elisa Viihde on their computer'. Meanwhile, customer service was integrated into all tasks in the Graphic Design category.

Artificial intelligence as such is not yet visibly included in the official degree programmes of Savo Vocational College, but who knows what will happen in the next few years. However, artificial intelligence is often included as a 'guest star'. Speaking of guest stars, competitors in Graphic Design received valuable guidance from photographer Antti Karppinen, one of the most significant users of artificial intelligence in visual expression in Finland. Karppinen also created the Taitaja2024 brand images.

"The competitors knew how to make good use of Antti's brief. Of course I felt a bit nervous before the competition – I had no previous experience of using artificial intelligence in the competition that I could draw from", says Hentunen.

Experiences in IT Network Systems Administration were also only positive. Miettinen said that this was also reflected in the scores of competitors, which in many respects were higher than in the previous year.

In the Taitaja2024 competition, the winner of the Graphic Design category was Justus Sääskilahti from Tampere Vocational College Tredu. Aku Kilpinen from the Forssa Vocational Institute was selected as the winner in IT Network Systems Administration.

Original text in Finnish: Marja Berisa