Nine municipalities teach artificial intelligence

The Networking Attraction cooperation project is a joint vitality development project of nine municipalities, one of the goals of which is to improve the municipalities' readiness to receive new immigrants. This is promoted by translating the municipalities' websites into different languages using artificial intelligence. The project coordinates and implements the introduction of language translations in the following municipalities: Ikaalinen, Jämijärvi, Kankaanpää, Karvia, Kihniö, Merikarvia, Parkano, Pomarkku and Siikainen.

– As the name suggests, the network of municipalities creates an attractive environment, and in this way the municipalities together take bold steps towards better accessibility. The reform increases the clarity of services for different user groups. It is also closely linked to the project's Ihana kamala maestu (Beautiful Terrible Countryside) housing experiments to be implemented next autumn, says Noora-Mari Syväluoma, project manager of the project.

Diverse artificial intelligence expertise for municipalities

With the help of language translations, current residents, those dreaming of moving to the country, and tourists to the region will be able to use the websites in the language of their choice in the future. This way, for example, Ukrainians who have lived in the region for a long time can receive disruption and fault reports in their own language in real time.

Translations will not be carried out as traditional manual page-specific translations, but the project will utilize an application powered by artificial intelligence. During the project, a translation tool will be introduced and municipal website updaters will be trained in its use. Each municipality will choose the necessary languages for its own website, but the initial plan is to implement translations into English and Ukrainian.

– After installing the application, the AI must be trained so that place names and municipal services are translated correctly. It must also be decided which words will be translated and which will remain unchanged. The language choices take into account the municipalities' resources for training the AI and checking the content, as well as whether the emphasis is on grammar or information discoverability, Syväluoma explains.

Websites introduce municipalities to housing experimenters

The language translations support the housing trials of the Wonderfully Terrible Countryside concept to be implemented in the region next autumn, to which those dreaming of moving to the country can apply during the coming spring. Through the housing trials, it is possible to get to know rural living – wonderfully terrible and terribly wonderful – in North Satakunta and Northwest Pirkanmaa. Since many people first come into contact with the municipality through a website, they must be attractive and clear in terms of information findability.

More information about the Wonderfully Terrible Rural Housing Experiments, which will open in April, can be found on the website: www.ihanakamalamaaseutu.fi

The press release has been prepared as part of the Network to Attract cooperation project, which is a vitality development project managed by Leader Pohjois-Satakunta in a nine-municipal area. The project is co-financed by the European Union's Rural Development Fund and runs from 1.1.2024 January 30.6.2026 to XNUMX June XNUMX.