At Qt, we believe that innovation thrives through collaboration. That’s why we actively partner with universities—giving students real-world challenges to solve while we gain fresh perspectives on emerging technologies.
One such initiative is the Future Interfaces Lab at Aalto University, which brings together students, faculty, and industry partners to explore how AI and future technologies are transforming user experiences. This fall, Qt joined forces with Aalto’s Department of Industrial Engineering and Management (TUTA) to contribute to the course “AI Interfaces and the Real World.”
The Course and the Challenge
The course focused on designing AI-driven interfaces that address real-world problems. Students worked in multidisciplinary teams to develop solutions for briefs provided by industry partners. This year, the briefs came from Qt Group, Nordea, Basemark, Sitra, and Aalto University faculty.
Over four weeks, students researched and prototyped their ideas—pushing the boundaries of what AI agents can do in everyday contexts. In November, Qt had the pleasure of seeing the results at the Future Interfaces Lab community event, where students showcased cutting-edge ideas, applications, and opportunities with AI agents. The prototypes were nothing short of amazing!
Our Brief: Tackling Information Overload in Cars
The student team working with Qt’s brief took on a challenge from the automotive industry: how to reduce information overload in modern vehicles, where visual interfaces dominate the cockpit and connected services often lack seamless integration.
Their solution? A concept for Qt Agent, a platform that transforms the car into a third connected space. By leveraging voice interaction and AI agents, the system would allow drivers to perform tasks across multiple online services and applications with just a few spoken prompts—making driving safer, smarter, and more intuitive.
Exploring Emerging Interaction paradigms together
The brief for the students was created by Sondre Ager-Wick, Director of User Experience and Antti Kujala, VP of Design Tools from Qt Group. The brief's aim was to push the students to think beyond conventional ways we interact with smart systems and services and coached the students during the project.
Ager-Wick and Kujala describe the project results by stating: We are extremely happy with this first project together and were very impressed with the maturity of thinking and quality of concepts the students produced. We really look forward to seeing where this collaboration can take us in defining the next generation of user interfaces and user interaction with AI-powered products, services and systems.
Aalto University's Head of Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Jens Schmidt noted: At the Future Interfaces Lab, we are connecting our students and researchers with companies that bring in real problems about new ways to interact with technology. The AI agent course showcases what our students at Aalto University can do when combined into a multidisciplinary team with competences in technology, design and business.
Why This Matters
Collaborations like these are more than academic exercises—they’re incubators for ideas that can redefine user experiences. At Qt Group, we’re committed to shaping the future of user experiences while cultivating the next generation of talent through collaboration with universities and students.
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