Pengxin Wang: The internship was an adventure filled with incredible research, unforgettable experiences, and lifelong friendships.

Making AI More Trustworthy and Lifelong Connections

Pengxin worked on a research project called Distilling Implicit Covariate Shift Induced by Node-Based Bayesian Neural Networks (BNNs) for Augmented Training. His goal? To make AI models not only smarter but also more reliable and efficient.

‘Deep learning based AI is often very accurate, but sometimes it can’t explain its decisions, or it struggles when the input data it sees changes,’ Pengxin explains. BNNs are great at solving this but are slow and require a lot of computer power. Pengxin designed a method to transfer knowledge into Deterministic Neural Networks (DNNs) that work faster while still being trustworthy.

The research group Probabilistic Machine Learning, where Pengxin conducted his project, is led by Professor Samuel Kaski, who is deeply supportive of the AScI programme and is dedicated to mentoring young researchers. The group plays a key role in guiding interns to advance their careers and achieve significant breakthroughs in their fields.

With the invaluable guidance of Professor Kaski and PhD student Trung Trinh, Pengxin developed and tested his ideas, combining freedom to explore with expert advice. ‘I had the freedom to explore and experiment while getting great advice and support,’ he shares, reflecting on the collaborative and nurturing environment that defined his internship experience.

A Bright Future Ahead

The internship wasn’t all about work. Pengxin joined activities like a poster exhibition, where students shared their summer projects. ‘Presenting my work and learning from others was a fantastic experience,’ he says.

Outside of work, Pengxin and his fellow interns traveled to cities like Porvoo, enjoyed Finland’s beautiful forests, and even saw the Northern Lights and a meteor shower during a sauna night. One of his favorite memories was a group cooking event where everyone shared dishes from their home countries. ‘We shared foods with people around the world, exchanged experiences in different cities and sang songs in different languages’ he says.

Pengxin loved the Aalto University campus. ‘The environment was perfect for research.’ he says. ‘Every day after work, walking along the trail in the serene forest, you can see adorable little animals, hear the rustling of leaves, and feel the gentle Baltic breeze.’ He especially enjoyed the Computer Science building, which had cozy spaces for coffee breaks and a lovely greenhouse for relaxation.‘The architecture of Aalto truly lives up to its reputation!" he explains. "The Computer Science building blends high-tech and art seamlessly, creating a space where you can stay focused on your work but also relax when you need to.’

Living in Finland was also a refreshing change. ‘Working culture here is quite different from busy cities like Hong Kong.’ he says. ‘People value work-life balance and well-being, allowing you to find your own rhythm to deliver high-quality work.’