Finland has released a free online artificial intelligence (AI) course which aims to educate public administration, businesses and the general public about the technology and to consider what it should be used for. The Ethics of AI course offered by the University of Helsinki has been designed in a partnership with the cities of Helsinki, Amsterdam and London as well as Finland's Ministry of Finance. Questions pertaining to the ethics of AI are topical, as many people are already making ethical choices in their work, for example, on data use. The course sets out to help them understand what the ethical use of artificial intelligence means and what it requires from both society and individuals. "These questions include how our data is used, who is responsible for decisions made by computers and whether, say, facial recognition systems are used in a way that acknowledges human rights. In a broader sense, it's also about how we wish to utilise advancing technical solutions," said Anna-Mari Rusanen, course coordinator for Ethics of AI.

The Elements of AI online course will be translated into all official languages of the European Union during 2020–2021. The initiative is part of Finland's Presidency of the Council of the EU and it was publicized during a meeting by European employment ministers in Brussels on 10 December 2019. The initiative is worth over 1,5 million euros. The Elements of AI online course is a creation of the University of Helsinki and Finnish technology firm Reaktor. The course is free and open to all, offering basic information on artificial intelligence without requiring previous knowledge of AI or coding.