How is the use of data changing our society?

KAUTE talks x Aalto University is a series of events organised jointly by the KAUTE Foundation and Aalto University. The events bring together researchers to discuss current research and upcoming applications with organisations that apply research results into practice.

The first KAUTE talks x Aalto University webinar event on 9 December focused on the data-driven future. The webinar was hosted by Risto Sarvas, Professor of Practice at Aalto University with keynote speakers Eero Korhonen, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Google inc., and Meeri Haataja, CEO and Co-Founder at AI startup Saidot.

In the discussion, Risto Sarvas emphasized that the technology industry and its investors are in the driver’s seat of major societal changes by creating and enabling technological development. Their agendas, values and investment criteria affect what our future will look like.

'Are these professionals aware and interested in this direct and indirect power that they have? They don’t necessarily want to think about their societal power,' Risto Sarvas asked.

Data is just raw material

Eero Korhonen highlighted that we are still at a very early stage of the development and there are a lot of opportunities yet to be harnessed. Data is just raw material, and it needs to be structured and turned into knowledge for it to be useful. 

'Understanding the opportunities of data is expanding now beyond the technology sector to more traditional industries, but most companies still need to take the first step,' Eero Korhonen said.

'To become data supported, organisations need to break silos, find the right tools and skills and have the leadership to drive the change'.

According to Eero Korhonen, data supported future is not limited to any sector, however, the energy sector, food production and life sciences are likely to get a lot of focus within societies.