Cities launch ‘observatory’ for ethical AI

Barcelona, London and Amsterdam are leading the Global Observatory on Urban AI project to help cities deploy artificial intelligence effectively and ethically.

Laia Bonet, Barcelona's Deputy Mayor for the 2030 Agenda, the Digital Transition and International Relations, said it’s important for cities to take a leading role.

“AI systems are riskier for public institutions than for private companies because we have an absolute duty to ensure equal opportunity,” she told Cities Today.

The initiative is part of the Cities Coalition for Digital Rights, which was founded in 2018 by New York, Amsterdam and Barcelona, and now has over 50 members.

Bonet said that AI has the potential to “t...