Visit in Turin: Collaboration, Ethical AI, and Innovation
“Three days of inspiration and networking”
In November 2024, representatives from Tampere, Amsterdam, Helsinki, Bucharest-Ilfov, Bacau, and Riga came together in Turin for the AI4Citizens Learning Visit. Over the course of three days, participants explored critical themes around AI governance, ethics, and practical applications, while strengthening partnerships and exchanging knowledge.
The visit began with a focus on EU AI policies. Hosted in the stunning baroque room of Ultraspazio, Director Laura Morgagni welcomed the group and set the tone for the discussions. Partners shared their experiences of implementing the EU AI Act in their respective regions, shedding light on the challenges and opportunities posed by this evolving policy landscape. Italy’s own approach to AI governance, including GDPR compliance and institutional frameworks, was also discussed. The day concluded with a leisurely walk-through Turin’s historic center and a traditional Piedmontese dinner along the scenic Po River—an opportunity to foster camaraderie in a relaxed setting.
On the second day, attention turned to ethics and AI in practice. Hosted by CTE NEXT, the group explored the ethical challenges of emerging technologies and the importance of equipping public administrators with the tools to address them. Key themes included the need for transparency and fairness in AI systems, alongside strategies to support smaller municipalities in their digital transformation. A standout moment was the live demonstration of Camilla, the digital assistant developed by CSI Piemonte, which illustrated the tangible benefits of AI in public administration. In the afternoon, participants traveled to the Wine Bank in Pollenzo, where professional discussions seamlessly blended with opportunities for informal networking and relationship building.
The final day highlighted innovation and collaboration within the Piemonte region. Sessions showcased the dynamic work of institutions such as Sistema Poli di Innovazione Piemonte and LINKS Foundation, whose AI research supports critical initiatives like disaster prevention. Italian companies, including Loki, TrafficLab, Colouree, Aequa-tech, and DGS, presented their innovative AI solutions, inspiring new ideas for public service applications. Services developed and presented covered wide selection of topics from the traffic and city infrastructure services to ethical and inclusive governance for NLP related tools - just to mention a few.
As the visit ended, reflections on key learnings underscored the value of shared experiences. Partners summarized the development work around AI in their own organizations and ecosystems, planned the next steps as well as the next learning visit in Bacau.
The visit to Turin showed the power of collaboration. By combining diverse expertise and regional perspectives, partners advanced their understanding of ethical and effective AI governance. The lessons learned concluded inclusivity, AI literacy and trust, future policies, training programs, and AI solutions as the project progresses.
With each step, the AI4Citizens project continues to pave the way for inclusive and responsible AI adoption across Europe.
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