Learning, AI, and Estonia’s education success

In this episode, we explore what happens to human connection in an increasingly digital world. Nesli Hazal Oktay, Associate Professor of Interaction Design at the Estonian Academy of Arts (EKA), explains why efficiency should not always be the main goal of digital services and how concepts such as “remote intimacy” and intentional friction can help preserve meaningful relationships. The conversation looks at how Estonia’s digital society balances convenience with human needs, why small everyday interactions still matter, and how designers can help create more empathetic and human-centred public services. 

In this episode, we explore why Estonia’s education system continues to attract global attention - from top PISA results to digital learning and AI in schools. Kai Koort from Education Estonia and the Education and Youth Board explains how teacher autonomy, inclusive education, creativity, and a strong growth mindset shape student success. The conversation also looks at Estonia’s balanced approach to digitalisation, the growing international interest in Estonian kindergartens, and how the AI Leap initiative is pushing schools to rethink learning, teaching, and future skills in the age of artificial intelligence.

In this episode, we explore how governments can enable innovation by adapting regulation to keep pace with technological change. Johanna-Kadri Kuusk speaks with Olari Püvi and Oliver Rätsep from Accelerate Estonia about how regulatory barriers are identified and redesigned to help new ideas reach the market. The episode also features insights from Sidsel Bülow Skovborg, Digitalisation Councillor at the Danish Embassy of London, recorded at the Global Government Forum in London. Together, the discussions highlight how small states can act as testing grounds for scalable solutions, why public–private cooperation matters, and how trust, infrastructure, and clear strategy shape successful digital governance.We’ve also got a quick invitation: Digit x PyCon 2026, a one-day software engineering conference, takes place in Tartu on October 9. The event brings together talks, workshops, and hands-on sessions focused on how AI and LLMs are changing software development in practice. More information: digit.dev.

In this episode, we explore how the cyber threat landscape is evolving in an increasingly digital society. Gert Auväärt, Director of Cyber Security at the Estonian Information System Authority (RIA), explains why cybersecurity has become a basic requirement for individuals, businesses, and governments alike. Together with Urmo Keskel, Co-founder of Phishbite, the discussion looks at the rise of scams and phishing attacks, how AI is making fraud more convincing, and why human awareness is often the weakest link in cyber defence. The episode highlights practical steps organisations and individuals can take to improve cyber hygiene and strengthen resilience in a world where digital threats continue to grow. 

In this episode, we explore Estonia’s AI Leap and what it means for learning in the age of artificial intelligence. Through conversations with teachers, programme leaders, and an educational psychologist, we look at how AI is already changing classroom practices, assessment, and student skills. The episode examines how the initiative is being rolled out nationwide, why guidance and shared rules matter, and how AI can support learning without replacing the thinking process itself. 

In this episode, we examine what truly makes it easy to start, run, and scale a business in a digital society. Ivar Merilo, serial entrepreneur and founder of Waybiller, explains how removing paper-based workflows and designing systems around shared data can eliminate entire layers of unnecessary work. He discusses why Estonia’s digital state and public–private cooperation create a uniquely supportive environment for innovation, what still needs to change in public procurement, and how AI is reshaping productivity without removing the need for human judgment. 

In this special episode, we examine what happens when a country with decades of digital-state experience meets a nation only beginning to debate digital identity. Estonia’s Chief Information Officer, Lauri Luht, and long-time e-Residency advocate Adam Rang, unpack the UK’s sudden pivot toward eID, the misconceptions shaping public fears, and the practical realities behind privacy, data protection and cyber resilience. They explain why digital identity is not a threat to civil liberties but a prerequisite for transparency, how trust is built through consent and accountability, and why culturally aligned design, not “one-size-fits-all” solutions, determines success. The conversation also explores the soft-power impact of Estonia’s digital reputation and the opportunities that a well-implemented eID unlocks for both citizens and the private sector. 

In this episode, we explore how national defence changes when society itself becomes digital. Mikk Tikk, Deputy Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces Cyber Command and lead mentor at NATO DIANA, explains why cyber security protects a way of life rather than just infrastructure. He outlines how redundancy, joint exercises, and close cooperation with the private sector shape modern defence, why Cyber Command must be ready to operate without the internet, and how innovation, from AI to drones and space-based networks, is redefining both threats and capabilities. 

In this episode, we examine how digitalisation accelerates the green transition. Mikk Vainik from Rohetiiger outlines how secure data, interoperability, and sector roadmaps turn sustainability goals into measurable business practice. Sven Parkel from the Estonian Hydrogen Cluster explains renewable hydrogen and Hydrogen Valleys, why EU-driven collaboration matters, how research translates into real-world pilots, and where startups can create the most impact. 

In this episode, we dive into the future of e-health and pharmaceuticals. Kertti Merimaa from Nortal shares how AI is already transforming healthcare through diagnostics, clinical decision support, and predictive tools, while also dispelling common myths about AI in medicine. Jason Grenfell-Gardner, CEO of J. Molner Company, explains how Estonia became a base for pharmaceutical innovation and why fixing fragile drug supply chains is just as critical as breakthrough therapies.