Free online event
An introduction to AI, algorithms and ethics in the public service
Exclusively for public servants and policymakers
Wednesday, Sep 7, 2022
Time is displayed in your local time zone
You’ll learn how to:
- Recognise how AI and algorithms are currently being used in governments
- Understand the intersection between algorithms, AI and ethics
- Identify techniques to ensure principles are upheld when using AI in public decision making
Speakers
Speaker resources:
- Mehrdad Safaei's presentation
- Nicoletta Iacobacci's presentation
- Artificial intelligence: Can ethics keep pace with technological progress?, Nicoletta's article on Apolitical
- Does the algorithm speak your community's language?, Bernardo Rivera Muñozcano's article on Apolitical
Apolitical resources:
- Using artificial intelligence for social impact, 8 min article
- Government and Artificial Intelligence: From hype to strategy, 8 min article
- Digital Transformation in the Public Sector, premium course
Governments around the world are relying more and more on AI to aid the policy-making process and public decisions.
But can algorithms ever be truly unbiased? What happens when discrimination becomes embedded into AI? And what can public servants do to ensure ethics remain front and centre in the use of algorithms and AI?
Watch this free online workshop to learn about how to prioritise ethics in the use of AI and algorithms in the public service. You’ll hear from experts and experienced public servants about how AI and algorithms are currently being used in the public service, and what this might look like in the future.
Who should watch:
This workshop is for public servants and policymakers in any area of government, at any level of seniority, who want to understand more about ethics, algorithms and AI, whether or not your role deals directly with algorithms or AI.
Interested in how Apolitical can support you and your organisation? Learn about collaborating with us.
Picture credit: Unsplash
Speakers
Bernardo Rivera Muñozcano
Program Officer, Community and National Initiatives at the Knight Foundation
United States
Nicoletta Iacobacci
PhD, Research Ethics & Integrity Team Expert at the European Commission
Switzerland
Mehrdad Safaei
Policy Analyst
Canada
Bernardo Rivera Muñozcano, Program Officer, Community and National Initiatives at the Knight Foundation. Bernardo Rivera Munozcano specializes in technology governance, community engagement and urban affairs, bringing his strategy and policymaking experience to local governments, legislative bodies, and philanthropic organizations. He currently supports the tech and innovation portfolio at the Knight Foundation, overseeing the implementation of smart city strategies for Knight communities and managing grants for projects on tech in public spaces. Previously, Bernardo was part of the digital strategies team at Bloomberg Associates, where he spearheaded research on the evolution of digital leadership in cities around the world. He also worked for the New York City Mayor’s Office of Data Analytics (MODA), where he developed a prototype framework for the city’s management of algorithms and automated systems. Prior to joining NYC’s MODA, he coordinated the Open City strategy at Laboratorio para la Ciudad, the experimental and urban creativity office of Mexico City, his hometown. He also served as a special advisor on Open Government and Transparency for Mexico City’s General Counsel, leading the civic engagement strategy in the drafting of the city’s first Constitution.
Nicoletta Iacobacci, Research Ethics & Integrity Team Expert, EC (European Commission), is the former ambassador for Singularity University in Switzerland, and has curated 6 TEDx events and collaborated with Hyperloop Transportation Technology. An international speaker and event moderator, she facilitates workshops and masterclasses on Ethics, Emerging Technologies, Inclusion, and Sustainability. Her second book, L’Etica è Donna (Ethics is Female), was released in November 2021.
Mehrdad Safaei, policy analyst specialized in data and artificial intelligence at the Digital Academy, Canada School of Public Service, Government of Canada. They also work as a research assistant at Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy and McGill University. Their recent research includes investigating the capability of artificial intelligence to generate plausible, persuasive, and useful policy analysis and performing Twitter sentiment analysis for "Attributions of Blame and Credit in Policy-Making". Mehrdad's areas of expertise are AI, ML, smart cities, evidence-based decision-making, data analysis, technology and innovation policy, open governance, and digital governance.
