Using AI in your studies: tools, tips and best practices
Resource centre on the use of artificial intelligence in studies
AI for Aalto students
AI can be used to support learning. It should not replace learning. Use it as one tool among many others. A collection of AI tips, tools and advice for Aalto students
Aalto AI Assistant, for students - at ai.aalto.fi
Now: A secure ChatGPT clone that protects your data. Used by thousands of personnel members and students. The Aalto AI Assistant is protected by multi‑factor authentication (MFA).
Soon: A tool to interact with Aalto data and student services, including the Student Guide, MyCourses, and teacher-assigned tasks
The ways of us using AI
Discover how fellow Aalto students are using AI to level up real‑world skills and why mastering AI is fast becoming a core competence for your future career. In these bite‑size videos, they share practical tips and ethical best practices with Aalto’s AI Assistant to help you build confidence and use AI responsibly. Press play and get inspired.
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Tips for Aalto AI Assistant
Why to use Aalto AI Assistant
The main reasons are safety and privacy. Both user agreements and digital firewalls protect your data when using the Aalto AI Assistant, compared with services like ChatGPT. The Aalto AI Assistant does not use your data to train language models.
In addition, we can incorporate more of our own data into the assistant. We started with content from Aalto.fi and are moving on to academic sources such as MyCourses.
| Feature | ChatGPT | Aalto AI Assistant |
|---|---|---|
| Protects your data (does not train LLMs) | ❌ | ✅ |
| Reads uploaded files (PDF) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Analyses images, converts to text | ✅ | ✅ |
| Possibility to discuss Aalto's content and data |
❌ Never |
✅ Chat with Aalto.fi (now for staff) Chat with Student Guide (coming up) MyCourses AI Assistant (coming up) |
| The tool can be used by including Aalto's... | ||
| ... public content | ✅ | ✅ |
| ... internal content | ❌ | ✅ |
| ... confidential content | ❌ | ✅ |
| ... secret content | ❌ | ❌ |
Tips for studying with AI
Translate Office Documents
- Word documents can be translated in their entirety at once.
- PowerPoint presentations can be translated by paragraph or word.
- Get to know Microsoft 365 tools to get started
Let Teams follow your work meetings, and let the Aalto AI Assistant take the notes
- A series of group projects is coming up and no one is taking notes? Tip: Write down a few basics by hand, then a) let Teams or Zoom capture your study group meetings as a transcript. One phone is enough; not everyone needs to join the meeting.
- First, get everyone’s consent and, for example in Teams, enable transcription only. After the meeting - no matter how messy – b) copy the transcription and c) ask the AI Assistant to generate notes from the discussion; you can also provide a brief prompt with key terms to guide it.
Important: Do not share Aalto-internal or confidential conversations with ChatGPT.
Using AI in your studies
Tips for using artificial intelligence for students
Tips for using artificial intelligence in learning
Guidance for the use of artificial intelligence in teaching and learning at Aalto University
Guidance for the use of artificial intelligence in teaching and learning at Aalto University.
AI in Aalto
Learn how Aalto University provides internal productised AI services to staff
and students.
AI news
Aalto Inventors is launching six new cohorts next academic year
Choose a field-specific cohort in AI, biotechnology, water management, minerals, or medtech — or join a multidisciplinary track open to researchers from any discipline.
ARTS launches AI Playground pilot in Väre
A new pilot space in Väre gives ARTS staff access to shared AI-ready workstations, with student access planned for 2026–2027.
From deep space to student innovation: Isaware and PdP collaboration
Students from Aalto and the Design Factory Global Network came together with Isaware in the Product Development Project course to work on detecting illegal mines.
Chat with aalto.fi feature now available in a chat window
The conversational chatbot, Chat with aalto.fi, which replies to questions based on the content of aalto.fi, is now accessible to logged-in users via a chat window.AI events
Bring AI to your course workspace: explore and try out MyCourses AI Assistant
Explore the new MyCourses AI Assistant and try how you can create an AI-based support chat for your course workspace. The event includes a short introduction of approximately 30 minutes, followed by a supported hands-on opportunity to test the tool with experts. The tool works within MyCourses and can be grounded in course or assignment materials uploaded by the teacher and guided by teacher-defined instructions.
AI Training 20 Aug 2026 – AI in teacher’s routines – Examples, practicalities and discussions (in Finnish)
An interactive, hands-on training on everyday uses of generative AI in teaching (course design, materials, communication), plus an overview of the MyCourses AI Assistant. The session is especially useful for teachers who want to provide students with controlled, course-embedded AI support.