AI Trainee Venla Tuomala: "AI is an extension of thinking, not a substitute for it"
AI is transforming roles and opening up new career paths in the financial sector. Venla Tuomala, an AI Trainee at OP Pohjola, works on the development of AI solutions. She points out that, at its best, the technology supports human thinking, curiosity and creative problem-solving.
At the intersection of business and technology
Venla Tuomala recently graduated as a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Business Administration from Aalto University. Her interest in technology was sparked by an optional course on the basics of Python and she completed minor-track studies in IT. This combination of business and technology has been useful in her work as an AI Trainee. Venla grasps the big picture due to her understanding of business and strategy, but knows what lies behind AI solutions thanks to her technical background. She also combines business with technical expertise in her spare time, as a freelance photographer.
"AI provides a diverse range of people with new opportunities and offers new ways of working. It's good that the initial hype has given way to discussions of how the technology can be used responsibly and meaningfully."
Responsibility and varied working days
The AI Trainee's daily work is varied and no two days are identical. Venla's team develops AI-based tools and is building its first multi-agent AI solution.
Venla has been a facilitator from the start of the project. She plans and organises meetings, coordinates the project alongside the team, analyses data and works with various stakeholders.
A highlight of the trainee period was the chance to present the results of the team's work to an audience of over 550 people, including OP's Group Executive Management.
"The presentation was an inspiring experience and a concrete example of how much responsibility I've been given as a trainee. I'm grateful for my team's trust and optimism."
AI as a partner in daily work
Venla uses AI on a daily basis for tasks such as outlining new issues, structuring information, retrieving information and finalising texts. She uses tools such as GitHub Copilot and Microsoft's Copilot solutions. Venla finds the meeting transcription function particularly useful. Being able to return to AI-created notes of agreed matters leaves her free to concentrate on the meetings themselves.
"The best way to benefit from AI in your work is to stay curious and experiment boldly. However, AI should be used as an extension of thinking rather than replacing it. You need to keep your own judgement in play."
AI is being developed carefully in the tightly regulated financial sector. Venla sees regulation as a strength: systematic progress is made with ambitious goals, and projects and tools undergo the necessary checks.
"It's great to be involved in development where responsibility is not a separate goal but an active part of daily work."
Continuous learning in a rapidly changing field
Venla develops her skills by following podcasts and topical news items, and trying out various tools. At times, the speed of change makes continuous learning burdensome, but OP Pohjola's internal resources and information-sharing channels help her to focus on what's relevant to her work.
She's particularly motivated by the fact that AI lowers the threshold for non-specialists to engage in technical work. AI won't turn someone into a programmer but, when used properly, it supports independent work and speeds up learning.
"I want to become an expert on the intersection between people, technology, substance and strategy. The trainee period has taught me the importance of creative problem-solving in cases where ready-made models might not be available."