Elisa, Nokia and Foundation PS are launching a collaboration to strengthen children’s understanding of artificial intelligence in Finland. During the first year, the initiative aims to reach approximately 19,000 sixth-grade pupils.
There is a growing need in schools for practical ways to teach AI literacy and the responsible use of technology. While artificial intelligence is rapidly shaping society and working life, scalable, hands-on ways to develop these skills alongside education remain limited.
Elisa, Nokia and Foundation PS are now launching a collaboration that will give pupils a concrete, age-appropriate way to understand what AI is, how it works, and how it affects the world around them. The program is implemented together with Ja’s Yrityskylä and IchiZero Oy and is planned to launch in four centres across Finland starting from September 2026.
The program gives pupils a clear understanding of how AI works, as well as its possibilities and limitations. The learning experience leverages AI learning robot “Bella”, combining robotics, digital tools and teacher-led activities to ensure safe, guided and pedagogically sound use of AI in line with Finnish education guidelines.
The program is designed to align with Finland’s national education goals and the guidance of the Finnish National Agency for Education (Opetushallitus, OPH) and the Ministry of Education and Culture (OKM) regarding the safe and pedagogically sound use of AI-related technologies in schools. During the first year, the initiative aims to reach approximately 19,000 sixth-grade pupils and to create a scalable model that can be expanded both nationally and internationally.
“Co-creation across technology, education and research is essential to ensure that AI is used safely and for the benefit of society. This program exemplifies how AI can be introduced in schools in a structured and responsible way and demonstrates of Nokia’s approach to bridging the digital divide together with our customers and other partners, in this instance through digital skill building”, says Nokia’s Chief Legal and Administrative Officer Esa Niinimäki.
Elisa and Nokia share a commitment to strengthening digital skills, responsible AI use and future competencies among young people. The initiative also contributes to broader societal goals, including digital inclusion, critical thinking and awareness of AI’s impact on communities and the environment.
“Children and young people and their digital skills have been at the core of Elisa’s sustainability work for over a decade. Artificial intelligence has rapidly become a new fundamental skill, with an impact that extends across learning, working life and society as a whole. Through this collaboration, we want to bring practical tools to schools that help children and young people harness the opportunities of AI safely and responsibly,” says Kati Nyman, Executive Vice President, Corporate Chief of Staff at Elisa.
“Foundation PS is on a mission to build a strong AI ecosystem and long-term research excellence for Finland's and Europe's competitiveness and growth. This collaboration is an important step in ensuring essential AI understanding is taught to Finnish students at a young age, building their curiosity and digital skills. Foundation PS is excited to support this initiative and further research into the topic”, says Peter Sarlin, Founder & Chairman of Foundation PS.
Bella is an AI learning robot, originally developed at Nokia Bell Labs and now built by the Finnish company IchiZero, that comes with a browser-based app and ready-made lesson materials so teachers can show pupils how artificial intelligence learns, makes mistakes and improves.
