Tony Shepherd is an artificial intelligence professional with a PhD in Computer Science from a prestigious British university. With credentials that could open doors in any corner of the world, the question arises: Why did Tony Shepherd set his sights on Finland? And how has he enjoyed his time here at twoday?
We were also curious to learn whether a professional of Tony's calibre has grown tired of the relentless buzz surrounding generative AI.
In the following article, twoday's Senior Consultant Tony Shepherd shares his story.
Tony Shepherd has always been fascinated by the big questions. "There's something fundamentally intriguing about mathematics and physics, as if they could explain or describe almost anything in the universe."
However, this feeling would soon have become too abstract or dull for Tony – if not for the introduction of computer programming.
"Until I started coding, mathematics and physics were just questions in textbooks, answered with a pen and paper, or, if you were lucky, a Casio calculator. When I began programming at university, the questions started to use real data, and the answers were graphs, images, animations, and sounds. It made everything interesting."
The practical applications of programming gave abstract theory a purpose.
"When you program, you don't see the equations of ancient Greek philosophers. You see running engines that simulate and simplify complex processes. Like a car mechanic, it's rewarding to create, adjust, or combine engines to do something new," Tony explains.
From Theoretical Physics to Machine Learning Research
After earning his bachelor's degree in theoretical physics, Tony pursued a master's degree focusing on how machine learning and mathematical models are needed in medical imaging and remote sensing applications.
"Theoretical physics lays the groundwork for understanding the physics behind sensor data like medical images. Machine learning, on the other hand, helps analyse and interpret data in new ways. Mathematical models further advance the development of imaging technologies. Together, these fields offer a foundation for innovations in medical imaging, and I was particularly interested in the opportunity to explore and develop new methods," Tony elaborates.
As AI began to gain traction, Tony's academic path led him from his master’s studies at the University of Edinburgh to the distinguished Department of Computer Science at UCL in London.
In London, Tony completed his doctoral thesis on the use of machine learning in medical imaging.
Moving Up North: Embracing Finland and its No-Nonsense Mindset
After his doctorate, Tony and his Finnish wife had to decide where to settle down and grow old - in Finland or the UK. According to Tony, certain aspects of Finnish society made the choice surprisingly easy.
"Honesty is important, and I've seen many Finns adhere to a strong 'say it as it is' principle. I think this is part of a wider "no nonsense" mindset that's deeply rooted in Finnish culture. This also leads to a tendency to do the right thing, even when it's not the easiest: recycling every bottle, crossing the street where and when the signs dictate... Small things like these all add up. Then, just when you start to think you're living among rule-bound robots, you see the bars on weekends and the crazy summer music festivals and remember that it's all about finding balance."
Tony Shepherd has fully adopted the Finnish lifestyle; braving the chilliest winter mornings on his bike commute, singing in a Turku-based rock band, and unwinding in the traditional Finnish sauna.
“Then, just when you start to think you're living among rule-bound robots, you see the bars on weekends and the crazy summer music festivals and remember that it's all about finding balance.”
Wearing two hats at twoday
After working at the University Hospital of Turku on medical imaging and publishing several scientific articles, Tony felt ready to try something new.
"I wanted to move to a field where I could be closer to people and apply my expertise to see how mathematical modelling and AI could be applied directly in different real-world situations," says Tony. This quest took him through various data science roles within an insurance company and eventually to the world of consultancy at twoday.
At twoday, Tony has been involved in developing AI solutions and advocating for responsible AI. Within the Data & Analytics unit, he wears two hats: On the technical side, he develops software and solutions for data processing and analysis. In consulting, Tony focuses on understanding the needs of clients: guiding companies to find impactful solutions instead of wasting time on unnecessary experiments.
Tony’s Take on the AI Hype
As LinkedIn overflows with AI-related tips and tricks and generative language creations, we wonder if Tony has gotten tired of the continuous AI buzz.
He smiles: “on the contrary, I’m very pleased with this”.
Tony appreciates that generative language AI has made the possibilities of AI concrete and understandable for the masses.
"Think of dedicating years to projects you're convinced hold immense potential and should captivate everyone. For the longest time, their appeal was lost on many. Generative language AI has transformed these concepts into something concrete, allowing people to interact with AI in a very real sense. While chat bots and search engines represent just a slice of the AI spectrum, I’m pleased that companies are now genuinely interested in AI and starting to ask the right questions which often reveal the wider potential of AI on top of the chat bots" Tony explains.
"Generative language AI has allowed people to interact with AI in a very real sense. While chat bots and search engines represent just a slice of the AI spectrum, I’m pleased that companies are now genuinely interested in AI and starting to ask the right questions which often reveal the wider potential of AI on top of the chat bots."
Tony is aware of both the risks and opportunities that come with the development of AI. He emphasizes that using AI in business requires a deep understanding and careful consideration of how much control it is given.
"Without the participation of the company's experts and continuous monitoring, the risks of AI could outweigh its benefits.”
At twoday, Tony has found an environment where he can participate in meaningful projects that not only advance clients' businesses but also contribute to the advancement of technology. He values working with intelligent, like-minded people who share his passion for technology.
"The culture at twoday is open and encouraging. The projects I've been involved in have been stimulating and rewarding. Here, professional development is a priority, and working alongside talented individuals committed to making an impact feels incredibly gratifying," Tony reflects.
"The culture at twoday is open and encouraging. The projects I've been involved in have been stimulating and rewarding. Here, professional development is a priority, and working alongside talented individuals committed to making an impact feels incredibly gratifying."
Tony Shepherd
Curious about the hurdles commonly encountered in AI implementation? Read more about Tony's thoughts in our blog: "Where AI projects fail and how to ensure your AI doesn't spout nonsense"