Empowering the Public Sector through AI

This session aims to delve into the complex challenges that arise in the pursuit of the objectives outlined in the AI Act by the European Commission. By scrutinizing the Act’s goals, we will underscore the considerable strides made by various initiatives put forth to propel these targets forward. The dialogue will not only provide a comprehensive understanding of the Act’s purpose but also illuminate the efforts invested and the results achieved to date in the realm of artificial intelligence.

The European Commission’s AI Act aspires to lay the groundwork for a cohesive framework that regulates AI, thereby promoting trust, transparency, and ethical practices. Nonetheless, implementing such an all-encompassing legislation necessitates strategic initiatives specifically designed to tackle the distinct challenges inherent to the public sector. In this session, we shall direct our attention towards an array of initiatives that contribute to the multifaceted blueprint envisioned by the Commission. Our focus will extend to various programmes such as HE and DEP, each playing a vital role in the Commission’s pursuit of its overarching objectives. Among those:

• Testing and Experimentation Facilities for Smart Cities and Communities – one of the key challenges in implementing the AI Act lies in ensuring the deployment of safe and reliable AI systems. To address this, the European Commission has established Testing and Experimentation Facilities for Smart Cities and Communities. These facilities provide controlled environments for testing and validating AI solutions, enabling public sector entities to evaluate their AI applications within realistic settings. By discussing the opportunities and insights gained through these facilities, we will showcase how they contribute to building confidence in AI systems and accelerating their adoption in the public sector.
• The Communicity Project – building public trust and fostering dialogue are essential components of the AI Act. The Communicity Project, an innovative communication initiative, plays a vital role in achieving this objective. It aims to bridge the gap between the public sector, AI developers, and citizens. By facilitating open discussions, awareness campaigns, and participatory processes, the Communicity Project fosters an inclusive approach to AI development and deployment. During this session, we will delve into the project’s impact, highlighting how it fosters transparency, accountability, and public engagement, ultimately aligning with the AI Act’s objectives. We will consider the work currently being doing for the development of the Minimal Interoperability Mechanisms (MIMs), particularly MIM5 (Fair and Transparent AI).
• Public Sector Open Data for AI Projects – the AI Act recognizes the value of data as a crucial driver for AI innovation. In line with this, the European Commission has emphasized the importance of making public sector data accessible and reusable for economic purpose, also and in particular for AI-based solutions. This is expressed by the Implementing Act on High Value Datasets. We will explore the initiatives aimed at opening up public sector data and how they empower AI research, development, and implementation. By sharing success stories and best practices, we will discuss on how leveraging open data can spur AI advancements in the public sector, so releasing its real value (also looking at an economic sustainability).

Join us for this engaging session and gain insights from experts, explore case studies, and discover the potential of AI to revolutionize the public sector while upholding ethical standards and public trust.