For researchers

Use of AI in research

Artificial intelligence is an important tool in today’s research. Whether you are a beginning doctoral student or an experienced researcher, AI can help you work faster, more efficiently, and more creatively.

What is the role of AI in research? AI refers to the ability of machines to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence – including language understanding, data analysis, prediction, or pattern recognition. In research, AI helps process large datasets, generate hypotheses, support academic writing, draw data-based conclusions, assist in peer review, and provide literature overviews.

How can a researcher use AI?

1. As a writing and editing assistant – for example, creating article drafts, titles, abstracts, or summaries, and providing language editing, especially in English. Adapting explanations for different audiences has become easier.
2. For literature analysis – AI can summarise and compare articles, find new references, and provide an initial content analysis.
3. For translation – AI makes scientific texts, news, and other content in foreign languages accessible to us. It also allows us to translate our own content, for example, for a colleague in South Korea whose English skills may not be sufficient.
4. For data analysis and visualisation – by processing raw data and detecting patterns, generating code (e.g. Python, R), and creating charts and graphs.
5. As an aid in developing hypotheses and research questions – supporting idea generation for new research topics and formulating problems or areas of focus.

What should a researcher keep in mind when using artificial intelligence?

• Transparency and scientific accuracy – AI may provide creative ideas, but the researcher is personally responsible for conclusions and sources.
• Reproducibility and documentation – texts and analyses created with the help of AI should be clearly indicated and documented.
• Ethics and reliability – AI must not replace the researcher’s critical thinking or act as a hidden author.

Awareness and skills

Introductory course on the use of artificial intelligence

Explore examples of artificial intelligence use in research and read about our researchers’ experiences:

Resources and tools available for researchers

The TalTech High Performance Computing Centre (HPC Centre) offers various services to the university’s researchers. The centre provides a computing cluster with different GPU resources, extensive storage capacity, and active user support. Specialists from various scientific fields, including AI, work at the centre and can be consulted to find solutions to different problems.

The computing cluster is a shared resource, and GPUs can be used according to the task. The cluster operates with the Slurm queueing system.

The cluster includes GPU resources across 4 machines:

amp1 – 8×A100-40GB – more suitable for model training

amp2 – 8×A100-80GB – more suitable for model training

ada1 – 2×L40-48GB – more suitable for running models

ada2 – 2×L40-48GB – more suitable for running models

More detailed information about the resources available in the cluster can be found in the documentation: Welcome to TalTech HPC User Guides! – TalTech HPC User Guides.

The storage service offers a total of 1.6PB of data storage capacity, fully located in the HPC Centre’s server room within the university campus, meaning that stored data does not leave the university. There are several ways to upload data to the storage service, the most convenient being an SMB mount, for which instructions can be found here: https://docs.hpc.taltech.ee/samba.html

The cluster can be accessed either via terminal over SSH or through the web environment OpenOnDemand: https://ondemand.hpc.taltech.ee/

To gain access to the cluster, you need to submit a ticket to the TalTech helpdesk (Application to the HPC Centre) or send an email to hpcsupport@taltech.ee, including your Uni-ID and the project or course under which you wish to use the resources. The centre’s price list can be found here: HPC Centre | TalTech.

ETAIS

The HPC Centre is part of the Estonian Scientific Computing Infrastructure (ETAIS), which also provides researchers with access to other resources, such as the University of Tartu’s computing cluster and cloud service. ETAIS resources can be accessed at: ETAIS.

LUMI supercomputer

In addition, the HPC Centre provides access to the LUMI supercomputer, which has substantial GPU capacity. Hardware information on LUMI can be found here: Documentation – GPU nodes – LUMI-G. To use this resource, contact the helpdesk (Application to the HPC Centre) or email hpcsupport@taltech.ee.

For especially large computational tasks, resources can be applied for from EuroHPC. More information can be found here: https://access.eurohpc-ju.europa.eu/

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Models via Microsoft Azure

What is Azure AI?

Microsoft Azure AI enables the use and development of various artificial intelligence solutions — from large language models (LLMs) to image, speech, and data analysis. All models and services: https://ai.azure.com/catalog

Why use Azure AI at the university?

• faster data analysis and research;
• access to state-of-the-art models without building your own GPU infrastructure;
• scalability;

How to use Azure AI services

1. Opening an Azure subscription
Contact the TalTech IT Department to open the required Azure subscription. Required information: organizational unit, financial source, and responsible requester. Request: https://taltech.atlassian.net/servicedesk/customer/portal/14/group/30/create/406

2. Creating admin accounts and configuring access rights
Azure administrator cloud accounts can be requested here: https://taltech.atlassian.net/servicedesk/customer/portal/14/group/33/create/374

3. Ordering and using services
After access has been created, it is possible to order and use AI/ML services and virtual resources (computing power, data storage, etc.) provided by Azure. Pricing information is available directly in the Azure AI catalog for each model.