Amsterdam and Helsinki both launched an Open AI Register at the Next Generation Internet Summit. According to sources, these two cities are the first in the world that are aiming to be open and transparent about the use of algorithms and AI in the cities. 

Currently, in the beta version, Algorithm Register is an overview of the artificial intelligence systems and algorithms used by the City of Amsterdam. The register is an effort to show where the cities are currently making use of AI and how the algorithms work.

Jan Vapaavuori, Mayor of Helsinki stated, “Helsinki aims to be the city in the world that best capitalises on digitalisation. Digitalisation is strongly associated with the utilisation of artificial intelligence. With the help of artificial intelligence, we can give people in the city better services available anywhere and at any time. In the front rank with the City of Amsterdam, we are proud to tell everyone openly what we use Artificial Intelligence for.”

As per reports, Helsinki and Amsterdam want to improve both the availability of services and the experiences of customers, and artificial intelligence can help in this. In the AI register, you can find descriptions of the city’s AI systems and you can study how AI is used in them. Through the AI register, you can also provide feedback, participate in research and thus influence how Helsinki and Amsterdam will build reciprocal, human-centred AI in the future. The plan is to bring more applications into the AI register during the autumn.

Touria Meliani, Deputy Mayor of Amsterdam (Digital City) stated, “Algorithms play an increasingly important role in our lives. Together with the city of Helsinki, we are on a mission to create as much understanding about algorithms as possible and be transparent about the way we -as cities- use them. Today we take another important step with the launch of these algorithm registers.”