Instructions for using aalto.fi AI search

How do the AI-powered search features work? 

Aalto.fi search contains a set of AI-powered features: question answering, search term suggestions and query enhancement. These features work together with the main search engine of the website. 

Although the AI features use the aalto.fi site content as the source, AI-generated results can contain inaccuracies. Remember to always verify the information you received by looking at the cited sources.  

When you use the aalto.fi search, AI evaluates the original query and triggers the AI-powered features based on the type of the original query and the quality of the search results. If the AI evaluates that the search returns relevant results to the original query, the AI-powered features are omitted and only the traditional search results will be provided.  

1. Query enhancement can add up to 3 relevant keywords to your original query to improve the search results. The additional keywords are not visible to the user, but improve the search results in the background 
2. Question answering can generate a written answer when the original query is in the form of a question. Answers are generated based on aalto.fi content. AI-generated overviews are accompanied by source links.
3. Search term suggestions are provided when the system evaluates that the search results to the original query are not of sufficient quality. You can select one of the suggested search terms to refine your original search.  

Examples:

• When searching for ‘MyCourses’, the search will return a list of search results about the MyCourses learning environment.
• When searching for ‘What is MyCourses?’, the search will generate a short answer to the question, accompanied with links to the source content. Traditional search results will be provided below the written overview.  
• When searching for ‘Aalto learning system’, the search will provide suggested search terms, for example ‘MyCourses learning platform’ or ‘MyCourses’. By selecting one of the suggested search terms, the search will be executed again for the selected search term.  

How to use the AI-powered search? 

To get the most accurate search results, it is recommended to write your search term in the same language you have selected as the language of the website (Finnish, English or Swedish). 

The words and terms you include in your query impact the search results. If you want a direct answer to a question, write your query in the form of a question. If you are not happy with the initial search results, you can reformulate your search and try other keywords.  

Privacy

• The AI-powered search uses data from aalto.fi as a source and therefore contains personal data available on aalto.fi, such as names mentioned in articles.
• If you enter personal data, such as names, into the search field, the AI can process this personal data in order to perform the search.
• The search does not process the user data of logged-in aalto.fi users. Information about whether a user is logged in or not is used only the determine whether content restricted to the Aalto community can be shown. 

The solution uses Aalto's Azure OpenAI API. 

Give feedback 

We are constantly improving the site search based on user feedback. You can help improve the search results by sending feedback via the short questionnaire that opens on the search page, or by submitting your feedback through the aalto.fi search feedback form.