I often wonder what the near future of work will look like, what skills are needed in the labor market. The current AI revolution, under the protection of large models, will make many of the technical skills of a computer worker in work life obsolete in just a few years. Large general models will displace white-collar workers from their jobs, because they do the job much more efficiently and faster than human workers. New skills will be in demand: using new systems and configuring them (business schools). Graduates of computer schools should be able to create even higher-class, new systems. Technical systems used in business life will be complex systems that all knowledge workers will need to learn to handle skillfully.
Below is an overview of the courses I am reading and have read.
MMO5580 Digital Transformation
Description: The course introduces the possibilities of digitalization so that a company can operate more efficiently, reduce costs, and integrate business processes and resources. One of the focuses is on artificial intelligence. During the course, we will gain an overview of how to implement digitalization solutions at different levels of an organization and across various economic sectors. The course also develops skills in selecting digital applications, thus enabling effective business process planning and execution.
Course topics: Introduction to digital transformation, the relevance of digitalization, economic trends; Digital transformation frameworks, various examples; Structure of artificial intelligence; Building and developing a digital enterprise, practical examples; Digital transformations in companies and the workforce: trends and their impact; Virtual assistants in business service; Algorithms and models; Artificial intelligence methods; Cognitive technologies, Internet of Things (IoT); Critical perspective on digital transformation and artificial intelligence; Digitalization, automation, modeling & simulation of business processes; Artificial intelligence use cases; Coping with digital changes; Digital solutions ethics: Bias, fairness, and transparency, Corporate social responsibility; Legal aspects: Data protection regulations (GDPR), EU Artificial Intelligence Act, Intellectual Property (IP) in artificial intelligence.
My goal in this basics course is to introduce you to the concepts of digital transformation and artificial intelligence revolution. Through the exercises we learn to understand the INPUTS and OUTPUTS of these digital systems and what goes on in between. The course introduces digital solutions from a management perspective. The solutions are reviewed in general, a so-called high-level overview. This is primarily so that students are aware of different approaches to digitalization and can use some of them. After this course, I expect a motivated student to be proficient at professional level “1” – AI USER.
The course is available in both Estonian and English (separate groups).
Volume: 64 academic hours of contact learning.
Target audience: Master’s students in Management and Marketing (TATM).
Start time: From the spring semester of 2021.
Location: Tallinn University of Technology.
Course support in Moodle (for registered students)
Course card in the study information system (ÕIS)
MMT5790 Software Technologies
Description: The course provides an overview of the application, commissioning, and management of software technologies in an organization and describes the social, ethical, economic, and legal aspects related to information systems. The course covers information systems and, more specifically, software systems. The connection between software and business objectives will be highlighted. It also covers the management of software projects. Social and ethical aspects of software are also addressed. Key software architecture variants, databases, and security will be examined.
Course topics: IT systems, Software technologies; ETL (Extract, Transform, Load); Data management – The importance of data in AI systems, Data sources; Data collection, Data quality, Data cleaning and preprocessing, Data origin and traceability; IT projects and their management; Key software architecture variants; Cloud services; Cloud computing, Edge computing; Cybersecurity; Databases; Semantic web; Graph databases; IT technologies in marketing; Business process management technologies; Web technologies; UI/UX; Social and ethical aspects; Legal aspects.
My goal in this advanced course is to teach how to configure AI systems for various business applications. I also teach how to use AI to design and create original software automation solutions. SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGIES allow for a broader understanding of IT systems and software, which is shaped into a form suitable for a business student. I want the graduate of the course to be able to contribute and ask the right questions when IT projects are carried out in a company. After this course, I expect a motivated student to have reached professional level “2” – AI CONFIGURATOR and even onto the threshold of level “3” – AI BUILDER.
Volume: 64 academic hours of contact learning.
Target audience: Master’s students in Management and Marketing (TATM).
Start time: From the spring semester of 2023.
Location: Tallinn University of Technology.
Course support in Moodle (for registered students)
Course card in the study information system (ÕIS)
MMO5540 Business Artificial Intelligence
Description: The Business Artificial Intelligence course introduces the basic concepts of AI and its applications in the modern business environment. The course covers AI strategy, management, and efficiency assessment, providing an overview of the AI project lifecycle and the role of human factors. Participants will learn various machine learning methods, natural language processing, large language models, and multimodal models. Additionally, the course focuses on AI applications in data analysis, human resources management, operations management, and decision support systems. The course offers both theoretical knowledge and practical skills to help effectively use AI for business needs.
Course topics: I FUNDAMENTALS, 1. Introduction: AI developments from a business perspective; The importance of AI in modern business; Types of AI applications: Narrow AI vs. General AI. 2. AI-centered enterprise: AI ecosystem; Developing AI strategy for businesses; Using AI in business decision-making. II AI MANAGEMENT, 3. AI project management: AI project methodologies; Building AI project teams; AI lifecycle from research to production; Risk management: Identifying and mitigating risks in AI projects. 4. Human factors and AI: Human workers collaborating with AI; AI as a supervisor; Increasing employee productivity with AI. 5. Measuring AI solution effectiveness: Assessing business AI readiness and maturity; AI impact on users: employees and customers; Evaluating AI effectiveness. III METHODS, 6. Machine learning methods in business: Ensemble learning techniques; Transfer learning; Federated learning; Supervised learning; Unsupervised learning; Reinforcement learning; Deep learning; Key algorithms: Regression, Classification, Clustering. 7. Natural language processing (NLP) business applications: NLP methods – Speech recognition, Speech synthesis, Text mining, Text processing, Chatbots, and virtual assistants (VA). 8. Large language models and large multimodal models: Large language models (LLMs); Large multimodal models (LMMs). 9. Predictive models: Predictive modeling; Regression analysis; Time series and forecasting; Evaluation metrics; Model validation. IV APPLICATIONS, 10. Data analysis applications: Automated data analysis; Data visualization; Automated reporting. 11. AI business applications: AI in human resources, including recruitment, talent acquisition, employee performance analysis, and feedback; AI in operations management; Decision support systems (DSS); Robotic process automation (RPA).
My goal in this specialized course is to delve deeper into the solutions that the ongoing AI revolution brings. Here, we will already emphasize the ability to configure AI systems for your business use cases. After this course I expect the motivated student to arrive onto a professional level “2” – an AI CONFIGURER.
Volume: 64 academic hours of contact learning.
Target audience: Master’s students in Management and Marketing (TATM); Micro-degree students.
Start time: From the spring semester of 2026.
Location: Tallinn University of Technology.
Course support in Moodle (not yet available)
Course card in the study information system (ÕIS)
Previous courses
Below is an overview of my previous courses, which are no longer being offered.
Application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Various Economic Sectors
Description: This course focused on the key factors related to the implementation of AI, including: 1) an overview of AI solutions tailored to different economic sectors, 2) AI solutions at various operational levels, such as machine, department, company, etc., 3) analysis of successfully implemented AI solutions, and 4) potential use cases from various industries and companies.
Course topics: AI fundamentals and principles; AI applications in business; Customer service filters; Fraud detection; Predictive maintenance in manufacturing and services; Flexible management in manufacturing and services; Mass monitoring; IT risks in SMEs; IT risks in large enterprises; Chatbots, Autobots, virtual assistants; Reducing customer service workload; Customer relationship management; Sales campaign management; Targeted sales; Consumer behavior prediction; Digital customer acquisition tools; Analytical tools; Recruitment of new staff with specific skills; Legal aspects of AI implementation; Reducing administrative costs and time; Decision support systems; Risk assessment; Productivity monitoring and improvement in manufacturing, services, and offices; Safety management, monitoring risk behavior; Human factors and safe AI.
Volume: 72 academic hours
Client: Ministry of Education and Research
Target Audience: Entrepreneurs, business specialists
Group Size: 58
Date: 26.10-16.12.2021
Location: Tallinn
AI Tools for Optimizing Business Processes During Digital Transformation
Description: This course provided participants with knowledge and practical skills on how to apply AI tools at different levels of an organization and across various processes. Students learned to select AI tools appropriate for their businesses and assess their effectiveness compared to traditional or non-AI solutions.
Course topics: Challenges and risks related to AI; Optimizing business processes using AI tools – reducing operating costs, increasing throughput, improving efficiency; Human-machine collaboration, work partnerships, and safe AI; Legal considerations of AI in business; AI tools for business use, including but not limited to: IoT devices for mass monitoring; Virtual assistants in customer service; Virtual assistants for employee training and guidance; Content creation tools; Content analytics tools; NLP tools; Predictive analytics; Business performance forecasting; Graph databases and knowledge graphs; Decision-making tools and automated decision systems.
Volume: 68 academic hours
Client: Ministry of Education and Research
Target Audience: Entrepreneurs, business specialists
Group Size: 58
Date: 23.01-27.03.2023
Location: Tallinn
AI Tools for Office Work Optimization in Businesses
Description: The course provided an overview of AI tools that businesses can use for daily office tasks. It covered AI tools used in customer service and risk assessment, such as GPTforSheets&Docs and Risk Assessment GPTforSheets. The course also explored the use of virtual assistants and virtual agents that make employees more efficient and replace human workers. The application of AI tools in marketing, sales, financial analysis, and employee training was also discussed.
Course topics: Changes in the economy caused by the AI revolution, including in business; Breakthrough AI technologies in recent years; AI methods that power AI tools; Virtual assistants that make employee work more efficient; Virtual agents that replace human workers and do the work for them; What tasks will machines do in the future and what roles remain for humans; AI tools in marketing, sales, customer service, financial analysis, risk assessment, and employee training.
Volume: 12 academic hours
Client: Estonian University of Life Sciences
Target Audience: Entrepreneurs, business specialists in South Estonia
Group Size: ~50
Date: 22-23.01.2024
Location: Tartu
AI Tools for Academic Research for Academic Staff and Students
Description: This training provided an overview of AI tools that academic workers, including students, can use in their daily research work. These tools allow academic workers to perform tasks much more efficiently, enabling the automation of work processes and material processing. The tools also significantly improve the quality of academic work, including: 1) analyzing a larger volume of materials, 2) writing papers faster, and 3) generating ideas for developing new solutions.
Course topics: Changes in science and education caused by the AI revolution; Changes in the concept of education and research; Breakthrough AI technologies in recent years; What tasks will machines do in universities in the future, and what roles remain for humans; Virtual assistants that make work more efficient; Virtual agents that do work for us; AI methods that power AI tools; Ethical and legal aspects of using AI; AI tools in research design, literature review, methodology development, new solution creation, and results interpretation.
Volume: 12 academic hours
Client: Estonian University of Life Sciences
Target Audience: Academic staff and students
Group Size: ~30
Date: 09-10.04.2024
Location: Tartu
Digital Transformation and Digital Ecosystem
Description: This module aimed to provide students with a holistic understanding of the digital era, including its historical origins, contemporary challenges, legal frameworks, workforce dynamics, and ethical considerations, in order to navigate and contribute to the evolving digital landscape effectively.
Module topics: 1. Lessons from the Industrial Revolutions. 2. Digital Transformation and Digital Ecosystem: Definitions and Components; Digital terrain and Technological Environment; Recent Technological Breakthroughs and Advancements; The Role of AI; Digital Trends and Innovations (NLP). 3. Digital Workforce: Digital Job Trends, New Skill Requirements, Digital Professions, AI’s Influence on Digital Professions and Employment Landscape; Working Virtually; AI as a Digital Worker; Human-AI Collaboration; The Future of Work. 4. Laws and Regulations on the Digital Landscape: Europe vs. U.S.; Regulations in the Technological Environment; The Role of International Organizations; Global Standards and Frameworks (EU AI Whitepaper, US, UK). 5. Challenges and Opportunities in the Digital Economy: Digitalization challenges, coping with risks; Balancing Rights and Innovation. 6. Ethics, Responsibility, and Sustainability in the Digital Era: Ethics in the Technological Environment; Ethical AI Practices in a Global Context; Digital Perspective of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG); Sustainable Digital Practices.
Type: Efrei Summer School Module
Volume: 24 academic hours
Client: EFREI Engineering School of Digital Technologies (France)
Target Audience: French Bachelor’s students (IT)
Group Size: 22
Date: 29.04-07.06.2024; 28.04-06.06.2025
Location: Tallinn
Foundations of Artificial Intelligence
Description: The course aims to introduce participants to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its applications across various fields. Students will learn the basics of AI, including machine learning, deep learning, neural networks, and natural language processing. The course will also cover ethical considerations of AI and its impact on society.
Course content: Introduction to AI; Definition of AI; Applications of AI in various fields; Brief history of AI. 2. Machine Learning: Definition of machine learning; Types of machine learning; Supervised learning; Unsupervised learning; Reinforcement learning; Applications of machine learning. 3. Deep Learning and Neural Networks: Definition of deep learning; Types of neural networks; Convolutional neural networks; Recurrent neural networks; Applications of deep learning. 4. Natural Language Processing (NLP): Definition of NLP; NLP techniques; Sentiment analysis; Text classification; Chatbots; Applications of NLP; AI-based conversational agents. 5. Human-Centered AI: Ethical considerations of AI; AI bias; Risks of AI; Privacy issues; AI’s impact on employment; Autonomous weapons; The future of AI.
Volume: 35 academic hours
Client: TalTech elective course for Mustamäe State High School
Target Audience: High school students
Group Size: 37
Date: 11.03-31.05.2024
Location: Tallinn
Artificial Intelligence in Retail, E-commerce, and Marketing
Description: This course covers the practical applications of artificial intelligence in retail and e-commerce, including related marketing activities and customer service. It provided an understanding of AI’s potential and challenges in this sector.
Course topics:
- Introduction to Artificial Intelligence and Retail: Key AI concepts and terminology, Overview of retail and its challenges, How AI will transform retail in the future.
- Machine Learning Principles in Retail: AI methods from the retail perspective, Learning processes and model evaluation.
- Data Required for AI Models: Retail data, Data quality, Data collection methods, Data cleaning and preparation.
- Recommendation Systems: Personalized marketing, Personalized offers and pricing, Advertising texts with generative AI.
- Personalized Customer Service: Personalized customer service, Virtual assistants, Chatbots, Virtual assistants.
- Predictive Analytics Use Cases: Customer analytics, Forecasting customer segments and individual customers, Optimizing AI use cases in logistics and transportation.
- Evaluating AI Solutions and Measuring Outcomes: Effectiveness metrics for AI applications, Evaluation frameworks and their use.
- AI Risks and Ethical Aspects: Data privacy and security in retail, Ethical considerations when using AI.
Duration: 40 academic hours
Organizer: Ministry of Education and Research
Target Group: Entrepreneurs, business professionals
Group Size: 44
Dates: September 10 to October 10, 2024
Location: Tallinn
Business Process Optimization with Artificial Intelligence
Description: The goal of this course was to give participants a deeper understanding of business process management principles and the possibilities of applying artificial intelligence to optimize them. The course focused on developing skills for systematic mapping, analyzing, and evaluating business processes while integrating AI methods. Through practical skills, participants learned to create and manage AI models for business process automation and optimization. Ethical and legal issues were also emphasized, providing participants with the necessary knowledge to address these aspects in their organizational context.
Course content:
- Business Process Management (BPM): BPM principles, The importance of efficient business processes in an organization, Business process optimization.
- AI-driven Business Processes: AI applications in business, Various machine learning algorithms and their application in BPM, AI’s role in enhancing business processes, Integrating AI with business process management.
- Human-AI Collaboration: Augmented workers, Effective collaboration between humans and AI, Engaging and motivating employees to work with new systems.
- AI Hardware and Software for Business Process Management: Tools and platforms for process automation, Internet of Things (IoT), Cloud computing, Edge computing.
- Preparing a Project in a Business: Business process mapping and analysis, Transforming organizational knowledge into data, Data collection and analysis for evaluating business processes, Identifying potential AI solutions, Workflow modeling.
- Applying AI to Business Processes: Automated workflows, Real-time monitoring in BPM systems, Using AI for real-time process optimization, Rule-based AI, Generative AI, Hybrid systems.
- Decision-making Processes: Real-time decision making, Human-in-the-loop decision approval, Systems with autonomous decision-making capabilities.
- Ethical Considerations in Choosing and Implementing AI Solutions: Ethical dilemmas and their resolution, Protecting user privacy.
Duration: 40 academic hours
Organizer: Ministry of Education and Research
Target Group: Entrepreneurs, business professionals
Group Size: 45
Dates: October 29 to November 28, 2024
Location: Tallinn