When citizens interact with public authorities, this often takes place via digital platforms. Artificial intelligence increasingly plays a role in these interactions, and although public debate on the topic has intensified, there is still limited knowledge about how public-sector employees understand and manage ethical challenges in their everyday work with AI.

The research project Practice Resonant AI Ethics for the Public Sector brings together a group of researchers from Digital Design and Information Studies to investigate these issues.

“We will both take a broad perspective by mapping municipal AI strategies and conduct focused case studies in selected municipalities. The aim is to gain a better and more nuanced understanding of how ethical challenges can be understood and addressed in practical work with AI,” says associate professor and principal investigator Christian Dindler.

Responsible and inclusive use of AI

The project is organised into three parallel strands. The first subproject consists of an interview study across Danish municipalities. This study will shed light on municipal practices and policies related to AI-integrated solutions, as well as their perceptions of the ethical challenges that may arise in work with AI.

The second subproject comprises four case studies that, over a six-month period, examine selected AI development projects in four municipalities.

In the third subproject, municipal AI developers and citizens will be brought together in a series of workshops aimed at establishing a shared vocabulary to improve communication about AI.

Based on findings and insights from the subprojects, the researchers will develop practical tools and methods to support ethical AI practices. The overall aim is to promote more responsible, inclusive, and citizen-centred use of AI in the public sector.

The research project is funded by a grant of DKK 5 million from Independent Research Fund Denmark.

Facts

Research group:

Principal investigator: Christian Dindler, associate professor, Digital Design and Information Studies, School of Communication and Culture.

Co–principal investigator: Madalina Pop, assistant professor, Department of Business Development and Technology.

Postdoctoral researcher: Gizem Öz, Digital Design and Information Studies, School of Communication and Culture.

Postdoctoral researcher: to be appointed.

Contact

Christian Dindler
Associate professor, Department of Digital Design and Information Studies
School of Communication and Culture
Aarhus Universitet
Tlf.: +4587162016
Mail: dindler@cavi.au.dk