The inspiring international conference “How to Build Innovative and Open Self-Government?” brought together experts, public leaders, innovators, and enthusiasts to explore the future of local governance through the lens of innovation, participation, and sustainable development.

Experts from the AI, Big Data, and Democracy Taskforce gathered on 1. October 2024 for the “Trustworthy AI by Design” webinar. The taskforce consists of four EU funded projects which have been cooperating to tackle the challenges of AI and big data while protecting democratic values. Did you miss the webinar? Have a look at the key insights.

In the name of the AI, Big Data, and Democracy Taskforce, we would like to invite you to a webinar on 1. October 2024 at 10.00 am. Join us and get yourself familiar with the key findings of the research on artificial intelligence, big data, democracy, and civic participation.

We recently attended EGOVIS 2024, part of the DEXA 2024 Conferences (https://www.dexa.org/), an event that highlights digital transformation in e-government. Experts from academia, public administration, non-governmental organizations, and industry gathered to explore key topics such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and digital inclusion.

PEDAL Consulting, s.r.o. hosted the third plenary meeting of the ITHACA project on 19. – 20. June2024, in Bratislava. This crucial networking opportunity served as a platform for knowledge sharing on the project’s progress, its achievements, and potential workflow challenges.

In the endeavour to create a participatory online platform that caters to the diverse needs of stakeholders, the ITHACA project embarked on a comprehensive exploration of requirements from all involved parties. This inclusive approach, involving citizens, municipality workers, managers, technical experts, data analysts, and ethical advocates, underscores the commitment to develop a platform that truly serves the interests of its users as we have mentioned in previous articles.

In the pursuit of crafting an inclusive and user-centric Artificial Intelligence (AI) platform for all the citizens, ITHACA project partners have embarked on a journey to meticulously understand the diverse requirements of all our stakeholders. How are we about to align the design of the platform with their specific needs?

In the realm of digital civic engagement, algorithmic systems wield significant influence. However, behind their functionality lies a complex landscape of ethical considerations and societal impacts. Algorithmic Impact Assessments (AIAs) emerge as crucial tools for promoting accountability and ethical practices. Despite challenges such as biases and transparency, embracing responsible AI design presents opportunities to shape a future where technology serves civic needs ethically. Join the ITHACA initiative in unravelling these complexities and charting a path toward algorithmic accountability.

In today’s digital age, understanding what people need from technology is crucial. Especially in places with lots of different people involved. It’s not always easy for everyone to say what they need, though. Primarily, if they haven’t used similar tools before. This can make it hard to figure out how to make things better. How did we cope with this challenge when collecting input for our planned design of the ITHACA platform?

In today’s digital age, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into civic engagement platforms offers unprecedented opportunities to democratize decision-making processes. However, this transformational potential can only be realized through the meaningful inclusion of diverse voices, particularly those from marginalized or vulnerable communities. Recognizing this imperative, the ITHACA project embarks on a journey to bridge the gap between AI innovation and inclusive civic participation. This article delves into the outcomes of various activities conducted within Work Package 2 (WP2) of the project, shedding light on the intersection of algorithmic risk assessment and human-centered design in the selection process of AI Citizen Juries.