Regional Parliaments of Northern Ostrobothnia
This year, the county council will talk about artificial intelligence, the future and what is true on social media.
On 2-3 November, the Council of Oulu Region will bring together decision-makers, experts and influencers from the region to the Oulu Theatre. In two days, the focus will be on technological change and its effects: artificial intelligence, the future and media literacy and culture.
Monday's theme is Artificial Intelligence and the future. Today's keynote speaker is a technology influencer and one of the founders of Silo AI Tero Ojanperä. Together with Inka Mero, Ojanperä has written the book Radical Solutions - Seven Bold Acts for Finland, published in 2026.
During the day, artificial intelligence will also be examined from the perspectives of science, computing infrastructure and ethics. These themes will be discussed by the Minister of Science and Culture, among others. Mari-Leena Talvitie, Director of LUMI AI Factory Pekka Manninen and AI ethics researcher Lauri Tuovinen.
In the afternoon, people will be asked who has the decision-making power in technological change. Members of Parliament from North Ostrobothnia will discuss in a panel under the title Artificial intelligence does not decide, but people. At the end of the day, a futurist, non-fiction writer and inventor Perttu Pölönen Reflects on what remains of the human being as work, know-how and leadership change in the age of artificial intelligence.
What is true about social media?
Tuesday's theme is Media Literacy and Culture. Day's programme begins with the Minister for European Affairs and Corporate Governance Joakim Strandin with a video greeting. Head of Budget of the Ministry of Finance What a Niemelä opens up the prospects of public finances and comments on his speech from the perspective of the younger generation The Chair of the Board of the Student Union of the University of Oulu Jonne Haapala.
Researcher and science communicator Pauli Ohukainen and non-fiction writer and educator Harto Pönkä grasp the ‘confident facts’ of social media: How to distinguish reliable information from claims that only sound convincing? The two-day speeches, arguments and insights are finally pulled together by the Oulu-based improvisational theatre group Uniikki Unikorni – in its own way and without a ready-made script.
The provincial day is hosted by a journalist Piia Pasanen. Music will also be heard in the programme, and the Northern Ostrobothnia Prize and the Organisational Award will be awarded during the event.
The Regional Days of Northern Ostrobothnia will be held from 2 to 3 November 2026 at the Oulu Theatre. Read more about the program and sign up!
Keywords: the regional Parliaments
