A group of more than 20 Norwegian students specialising in technology management gained a rare, practical insight into the engine room of AI-powered corporate training last week, during a visit to the London offices of the simulation firm Attensi.
The Masters students from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology’s (NTNU) prestigious Industrial Economics and Technology Management programme spent the day with Attensi’s product and AI teams. The session was designed to bridge the gap between cutting-edge academic research and the realities of commercial implementation in a fast-moving field.
Inside the AI Training Laboratory
The core of the visit involved a deep dive into how Attensi designs its AI-driven simulations. The company, founded in 2012 and now with offices across Europe and the US, specialises in gamified and VR-oriented training. The students explored the creation of multiagent systems, where multiple AI agents work together in the background with specific tasks to generate realistic, human-centred digital learning experiences.
This was distinct, as one student noted, from simply adding a prompt-based AI feature to an existing product. Kristoffer Ryen Skullerud, one of the visiting MSc students, said it was “particularly enlightening to see the difference between AI features that simply adopt a prompt interface and native AI products that are designed to create experiences with multiple agents.”
The theory was put into practice with hands-on experimentation using Attensi’s flagship RealTalk platform. This AI-powered coaching tool uses virtual humans with natural voices and high-quality animations to simulate workplace conversations. Students challenged these AI characters in real-world scenarios, testing how context engineering ensures responses are authentic, consistent, and psychologically safe.
“We asked the students to put RealTalk through its paces and they didn’t disappoint,” said Attensi’s Creative Director, Justin Blanchard, who noted their “energy and enthusiasm” when engaging with both the virtual humans and the company’s experts.
From Academic Theory to Business Application
The collaboration aligns closely with NTNU’s own academic focus. The university has been a leading centre for AI research in Norway for decades, with initiatives like its Human-Centered AI Lab (HCAI) which prioritises the human perspective in AI design. The visiting students’ five-year integrated masters programme itself combines technology, management, and economics, preparing them for roles where technical understanding meets business application.
For Attensi, recently named to Fast Company’s World’s Most Innovative Companies list for 2025, such visits are part of an ongoing strategy to connect with academia. The company’s RealTalk platform exemplifies the applied innovation it champions, allowing global organisations to customise scenarios for practicing difficult conversations, with the AI providing instant feedback on a user’s tone, empathy, and directness.
The visit also resonates with broader national efforts to cultivate AI skills. In the UK, the government has launched an AI Skills Boost programme aiming to provide 10 million workers with key AI skills by 2030. Similarly, the UK Government Digital Service runs an AI Accelerator program focusing on hands-on learning to build in-house data and machine learning capability within the civil service.
These initiatives underscore a growing demand for practical, role-based AI skills and responsible implementation—themes directly reflected in the day’s discussions at Attensi’s Southwark office. As AI reshapes skills development, opportunities for students to witness the engineering and ethical considerations behind commercial systems are becoming an increasingly vital part of technological education.
