AI-based interest tool for education and career exploration

Karriereveiledning.no develops digital career guidance tools based on real user needs, guidance practice, and the Norwegian National Quality Framework for Career Guidance. Through more than 90,000 chat conversations, we identified a common challenge: many users struggle to describe their interests and to understand how these interests relate to education programmes and occupations.

The AI-based interest tool is developed specifically for students in Norway facing their first major educational choice after 10th grade. At this stage, students must choose between vocational education and general studies. The tool is designed for students who have certain interests but lack the vocabulary or overview to see where those interests might lead.

The user answers four short, free-text questions about school subjects, leisure interests, topics they are curious about, and potential job interests. Using artificial intelligence, the tool identifies patterns in these answers to suggest relevant education programmes and occupations. Users can explore suggestions for upper secondary education, higher education, and careers.

A key pedagogical point is that suggestions are not ranked. They are intended to spark ideas, support self-reflection, and serve as a starting point for further career learning and guidance. Each suggestion includes a short description and links directly to utdanning.no, the national, quality-assured source of education and labour market information in Norway.

The tool is a result of cross-sectoral cooperation between public services and was developed with funding from Bufdir (The Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs), with a strong focus on inclusion and accessibility. It demonstrates how AI can be implemented in a safe, user-centred, and quality-assured manner within public services. Privacy and data protection are core priorities, and the tool is transparent about the nature of AI-generated suggestions.

The AI-based interest tool was selected as a finalist for the User Experience Award 2025 in Norway, recognizing its high standard of design and accessibility.