During the AI in the City conference on 18 September, Waag Futurelab signed the City Deal on AI in the city. Governments, companies, knowledge institutions and social organisations agree to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) responsibly for social tasks related to the liveability of cities and towns. They promise to take into account values such as justice, well-being, sustainability, prosperity, autonomy and the preservation of local identity.
Big tech companies are presenting AI systems with great conviction, and many believe that they will radically change our lives. AI raises questions for governments of how to deal with the development and use of AI. That is why Waag has entered into a City Deal with governments, companies, knowledge institutions and social organisations to ensure that artificial intelligence (AI) contributes in a responsible manner to the development of cities and towns in the Netherlands.
Public values as a starting point
No 'smart' city without smart residents. By participating in the City Deal, Waag wants to emphasise the importance of considering the development and role of AI in the city from the perspective of public values. Public values are the values that we as a society consider important. How do we want privacy to be protected? And what do these technologies mean for issues such as the climate crisis or inequality? AI can have a major impact on the liveability of the city for both humans and other life forms. Within the City Deal, Waag is committed to working with residents on the design and use of AI in their living environment and the protection of ecological interests.
Among other things, the Deal stipulates that it is important "that when developing the technology, it can be guaranteed that future-proof and robust systems (independent and sovereign) are developed that can be used generically within the public sector, even when the ICT landscape changes in the future. In addition to private AI applications, public AI must also be developed." Based on the deal, those involved will work on an AI Workshop and knowledge network.
More information about the deal can be found at https://agendastad.nl/citydeal/over-ai/
