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RealYou AI, a new Business Finland-funded innovation project, is developing technology that could redefine how people interact with artificial intelligence (AI). By combining cognitive science with advanced machine learning, the project aims to create intelligent assistants that rapidly learn about and assist individual people, rather than treating everyone the same or users needing to tailor their own AI agents. 

Despite major advances in AI, most digital assistants and recommendation systems still rely on large amounts of interaction data. As a result, they often struggle to provide truly personalized guidance, particularly for new or infrequent users or in situations where preferences are complex, evolving, or highly individual.

RealYou AI is addressing this challenge through cognitive machine learning, an emerging approach that enables AI systems to build richer models of human preferences, goals, constraints, and decision-making behavior. Rather than relying on vast amounts of data, the technology seeks to understand why people make decisions and how those decisions vary between individuals.

The project's vision is to create AI assistants capable of rapidly learning what matters to each person and adapting their support accordingly. Such capabilities could transform sectors ranging from e-commerce and financial services to healthcare, education, and professional decision support. In online shopping, for example, solutions created by RealYou AI could address the ‘cold start’ problem of what to recommend to new users.

"Personalization is becoming one of the defining challenges and opportunities in artificial intelligence," says Andrew Howes, cognitive scientist with the RealYou team and visiting professor at ELLIS Institute Finland. "Organizations increasingly recognize that generic AI experiences leave significant value on the table. The next generation of AI systems will need to understand and assist individuals, not just populations. RealYou AI is exploring how cognitive machine learning can make that possible."

The commercial potential of targeted AI is significant. As organizations seek to differentiate their products and services through AI, the ability to provide highly personalized experiences while respecting privacy and maintaining user trust is emerging as a major competitive advantage.

Supported by Business Finland, RealYou AI contributes to Finland's leadership in human-centered artificial intelligence and digital innovation. The project will generate new intellectual property, industry partnerships, prototype technologies, and scientific advances that could underpin a new generation of personalized AI products and services.

By bringing together expertise in machine learning, cognitive science, and human-centered AI, RealYou AI aims to establish the foundations for AI systems that understand people, support better decisions, and create value for both individuals and organizations.