Nitin Sawhney uses artificial intelligence to develop services for immigrants in Espoo.
Nitin Sawhney moved to Finland from the United States and works in artificial intelligence. He and his research team are developing services that help immigrants in Espoo in their everyday lives. Article published in Helsinki News by Oksana Chelysheva on February 8, 2026. https://www.helsinginuutiset.fi/paikalliset/9154347
English translation below:
Nitin Sawhney is a technology expert who lived in the United States for 30 years. Then he began to worry about the politics and atmosphere in the United States.
– I was worried that trust in society was weakening and people were more hostile than before.
Sawhney became interested in the Nordic countries. Nordic equality, public healthcare and climate policy seemed good to him.
He decided to accept a five-year job at Aalto University. After five years, he became an associate professor at the University of the Arts Helsinki.
Sawhney is now working on artificial intelligence. It’s a topic that’s been talked about a lot. Sawhney teaches courses specifically on how to use AI responsibly. He studies how AI affects people’s lives.
“As soon as you open your phone, you are using artificial intelligence,” he says.
– What matters is whether you know it and make informed choices.
Services for immigrants
Sawhney’s research group has collaborated with, among others, the National Institute for Health and Welfare, Kela, and the City of Espoo.
Of particular importance to her is a project called Trust-M, which develops digital services for immigrants. The services support, for example, immigrant mothers in Espoo. The services utilize artificial intelligence.
– We talk to immigrants and make observations about their everyday lives.
The project also examines how laws, regulations and technology affect immigrants.
– Integration is difficult, says Sawhney.
– Immigrants do not lack skills, but they are facing a completely new system.
The Sawhney group wants to find out what difficulties there are in advising immigrants in Finland. Artificial intelligence can help, for example, with communication.
According to Sawhney, artificial intelligence is also a social system. People and institutions are responsible for its operation.
A conflicted country
Dr. Sawhney has lived in Finland for almost six years now. Before Finland, he lived in Iran, Bahrain, Russia, and South Africa. Living in many countries has influenced him.
Sawhney says that his view of Finland is contradictory.
– I came to Finland because of its reputation, but there are also serious problems here. Immigrants are treated worse than before and there is a lot of discrimination. There are economic challenges. Finland also trades arms with Israel.
He adds that no society is perfect. He says that he participates in protests and criticizes government policies.
– But at least there is freedom of speech here and journalists can report things freely, he adds.
Finally, Sawhney states:
– There are many good things in Finland, but also deep problems. I still feel that I want to participate in society here in my new home, the Nordic countries.
Nitin Sawhney 