University of Helsinki starts research on prisoners train artificial intelligence based on a successful pilot project with a start-up company

The researchers of the University of Helsinki will observe the cooperation between the Prison and Probation Service and Metroc, interview the staff members supervising the work activity, observe the training of AI and talk with the prisoners working with AI. The aim of the research is to find out how the project benefits each party and produce information on both the AI training process and the possibilities and requirements of prison work in the digital era.

The prisons see AI training as a means of integrating prisoners into society and modernising prison work. Released prisoners are required to have digital skills because the surrounding society is getting more and more digital.

From a business perspective, the work carried out by the prisoners is a necessary resource. The material needed to train artificial intelligence in Finnish cannot be produced on international online platforms, as they do not have employees who understand Finnish or the Finnish operating environment.

– When prisoners train AI in prison, the needs of the public and private sectors meet in a functional and exceptional way, says Professor Minna Ruckenstein from the Centre for Consumer Society Research of the University of Helsinki.

Prisons have good experiences of AI training

The possibility to do AI training in prison has modernised the range of prison work. The pilot project has offered work especially to prisoners, who are not suitable for other work activities. For example, some prisoners may not be able to work in groups due to security reasons or do physical work due to health reasons.

– AI training gives an opportunity to learn new things because it develops digital skills, reading comprehension and concentration. Prisoners often have problems with these particular skills, but they need them if they want to study, work or integrate into society, says Senior Specialist Pia Puolakka from the Prison and Probation Service.

Several prisons offer AI training as a form of prison work activity. In Hämeenlinna Prison, 11 female prisoners took part in AI training. Hämeenlinna Prison is also referred to as a smart prison, which focuses on the prisoners’ digital skills and the use of online services, which the prisoners can access, among others, in their cells by using cell terminals. In addition to Hämeenlinna Prison, AI training has been carried out in Helsinki Prison, Sukeva Prison and Turku Prison. The experiences have been encouraging.

– AI training has inspired some prisoners to complete a basic course on artificial intelligence arranged by the University of Helsinki and Reaktor along with their work, says Senior Instructor Sanne Varjo in Hämeenlinna Prison delightedly.

Pilot project develops AI for construction industry

Before the actual AI training, the prisoners study the basics of construction industry with the help of the material provided by Metroc. After the basic studies, the prisoners train the artificial intelligence by searching the correct information from the texts related to construction projects. The work includes interpreting the content of the texts and answering questions concerning the construction industry. The training of AI is based on repetition and replying to questions.

The cooperation between the Prison and Probation Service and Metroc has been close. The developers of AI and the work supervisors of the prisons have discussed matters related to AI training in monthly meetings and developed the process to benefit both parties.

– The prisoners train AI by using an application developed by Metroc and installed on separate computers. We update the application and the tasks continuously to meet the needs of the prisoners, says Jussi Virnala, CEO of Metroc.

Metroc outsourced the development of AI to the Prison and Probation Service. The prisoners, who train AI, get the same allowance as for other work activities.

– This joint project has had a special impact on us because we as a company have been able to teach prisoners new skills and information on the construction industry and to employ them. In our opinion, the project also has an important social impact, describes Virnala.

Further information:

Senior Specialist, Team Leader Pia Puolakka, Prison and Probation Service, tel. +358 50 528 9042, pia.puolakka(at)om.fi
CEO Jussi Virnala, Metroc Oy, tel. +358 40 549 3107, jussi.virnala(at)metroc.ai
Professor Minna Ruckenstein, University of Helsinki, tel. +358 400 871598, minna.ruckenstein(at)helsinki.fi

REPAIR Project by University of Helsinki (repair-research.fi)
Metroc (metroc.ai)
Press release on 11 April 2022: Development of artificial intelligence to be started in prisons