Sami’s career has largely focused on mobile applications. He started his career as a game developer and worked for his own consulting company. Initially they provided consultancy on game making and later moved into game design and mobile apps.
At a consulting company, Sami and his colleagues created a digital platform for the restaurant and event domain.
”The idea for the platform came from a mobile app. At G Livelab restaurant and event venue, customers can order and pay directly through the app for tickets and drinks to the table. In this way, for example, the concert experience is not disturbed, as you can continue watching the show at the same time”, Sami tells.
The product concept was expanded into a white label product for other companies. For example the platform is still in use at Gatorade Center, where drinks can be ordered in the stands during a match.
Sami has worked for about thirteen years as a Software Developer in different companies. He has also gained experience as a Scrum Master and a team leader, but he has always wanted to be a "hands on maker".
Finding Master’s Degree
Master’s Degree studies were a personal interest for Sami and not directly related to his career like the Bachelor of Engineering studies. He discovered separate courses on AI and devoured information from YouTube, among other sources. Sami wanted to learn more about what AI is made of and how it can know things. Googling, he discovered that Jamk offers a whole degree programme in AI and Data Analytics. Then it was clear that he applied to study.
The importance of cooperation in learning
For Sami, the contact days at the school were the best, like the "cream on the cake". He got to meet some great and knowledgeable people. Sami describes studying together as "doing and finding things out together". He was delighted that the wall of authority of the teachers had been removed. There was an awareness that students might be an expert in a field who knew more about a subject than the teacher. In Sami’s opinion you get motivated in such an environment.
The student group used Discord channels, made by Sami, to discuss together.
”Each task had its own channel, allowing students to have clear task-specific discussions. Based on feedback, the channel was a plus for everyone”, Sami says.
Sami recommends that students focus as much as possible on the collaboration.
During his studies, Sami created a data strategy for his then employer. He took five use cases of what the company's data could be used for and what it actually does. The company adopted the data strategy in part.
Sami found time to study alongside his family and work, because he had an interest in his studies and a desire to graduate with good grades. At times when he needed to make progress, he woke up at 5 or 5.30 every morning to study in peace and to concentrate on his study tasks. In the evenings, Sami would no longer have the energy to study.
Thesis topic from a hobby
Sami has been involved in all kinds of games all his life. That's where the topic of his thesis came from. He wanted to explore how the current AI revolution could be used from the perspective of game developers and gamers.
"The game's 'non-player characters' (NPCs), which are powered by computer programs, communicate and interact with players. Using advanced artificial intelligence, these NPCs engage dynamically in dialogue with players. In practice, it's a system where the NPCs generate dialogue in real time based on in-game events, the game environment, the player's actions, and the character's traits. No pre-written lines of dialogue are used," Sami explains.
The topic of the thesis is also of interest to others, as AI is widely used in games. Sami researched and found a few companies that have created similar dialogue for games, but there are no games using similar on-the-fly dialogue yet.
After graduation, Sami joined Gofore as a Senior Software Developer. He has enjoyed his new job working on client projects. Sami likes the fact that Gofore goes ethics first and the company's values are visible in everyday life and not just marketing talk.
