As AI continues to transform our world, questions around societal impact, regulatory frameworks, and ethical implementation are taking center stage in global discussions. This month’s Pulse brings you cutting-edge research, policy breakthroughs, and thought leadership from across the AI and data governance landscape.
Global AI/ Data Governance & Innovation
- The UK has launched the AI Energy Council and enhanced cybersecurity measures to future-proof infrastructure.
- The U.S. is juggling various legislative efforts, including the Clean Cloud Act and scrutiny over tech companies’ AI partnerships.
- The EU’s €1.3 billion Digital Europe Programme and “AI Continent” action plan aim to drive cross-sector growth and AI innovation.
- Saudi Arabia, in partnership with Oracle, plans to train 50,000 professionals in AI.
Recent insights from Data for Policy CIC
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Register Now: Data for Policy 2025 – Europe Edition Early registration is now open! Join us as we explore how data, AI, and emerging technologies drive both digital and green transformations. Partnering with TNO and the Centre for Bold Cities, this conference promises groundbreaking discussions on our shared technological future.
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New Partnership: DfP’25 Asia-Pacific Conference We are thrilled to announce our MoU with the Shanghai Research Institute for Intelligent Autonomous Systems (SRIIAS) at Tongji University. Together, we will co-host the Data for Policy 2025 Asia-Pacific Conference in Shanghai (23-24 October), exploring “Advancing AI: Innovations, Governance, and Ethical Frontiers.”
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Fireside Chat Recap: Open Data: Looking Back to the Future: Our recent discussion featured Dr. Anastasija Nikiforova (University of Tartu) and Natalia Carfi (Open Data Charter) examining open data’s journey, challenges, and future directions. Key takeaways emphasised cross-sector collaboration, user-centered design principles, and sustainable public-private partnerships.
News from Our Community
- Prof Stefaan Verhulst (a Data for Policy CIC Director) joined as panelist at the “AI for Real” event in NYC, contributing valuable insights on AI’s cross-sector impact.
- Dr Wilson Wong (The member of Data & Policy Editorial Board) appointed Visiting Scholar at the Ostrom Workshop, Indiana University Bloomington
- Dr Nydia Remolina published a co-authored chapter in “Financial Technology and Digital Commercial Law” (Oxford University Press)
- Prof Marta Poblet Balcell released research on “The Governance of the ReFi Ecosystem: Integrity in Voluntary Carbon Markets as a Common Resource“
- Prof Igor Calzada contributed to the report “How Can Data Cooperatives Help Build a Fair Data Economy?“
Latest Data & Policy Articles
The cutting-edge research published in the Data & Policy journal continues to push boundaries in AI governance and applications.
- Yang Han, Jacqueline C.K. Lam, Victor O.K. Li, Lawrence Y.L. Cheung: A large language model based data generation framework to improve mild cognitive impairment detection sensitivity
- Evelyne Tauchnitz: “Doing Peace”: Conceptualizing relational peace through interactions and networks in a digitalized world
- Dzmitry Katsiuba, Mateusz Dolata, Gerhard Schwabe: Joining forces for online feedback management: policy recommendations for human–AI collaboration
- Fola Adeleke: Reinstating trust in elections in the era of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies
- Mo Chen, Jens Grossklags: Algorithmic regulation at the city level in China
Call for Papers: Two significant Data & Policy special collections are currently accepting submissions, offering valuable platform for scholars and practitioners. The “Democratic Decision-Making in Times of AI” collection invites papers examining the evolving relationship between artificial intelligence systems and democratic processes, with particular interest in governance frameworks that preserve democratic values while harnessing AI’s potential. Simultaneously, the “Governance of Health Data for AI Innovation” special collection seeks contributions addressing the intricate balance between accelerating healthcare innovation through AI and ensuring robust data governance, privacy protection, and ethical oversight. Both collections represent exceptional opportunities for researchers to contribute to these critical conversations shaping our collective digital future.
On Our Radar
The regulatory landscape for AI continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace worldwide. In the UK, the strategic launch of an AI Energy Council marks a significant step toward aligning artificial intelligence development with sustainable energy objectives, complemented by strengthened cybersecurity legislation designed to safeguard critical digital infrastructure. Meanwhile, the EU has unveiled its ambitious “AI Continent” action plan under the Digital Europe Programme, committing €1.3 billion to accelerate AI innovation across healthcare, energy, and transportation sectors. China’s regulatory framework continues to mature with the official registration of 23 new AI services, reflecting Beijing’s systematic approach to oversight in this rapidly evolving domain. Across the Atlantic, U.S. authorities have intensified scrutiny of major tech collaborations, with investigations into Google and Microsoft’s AI partnerships raising serious questions about market concentration and potential competitive distortions in this transformative technology space.
Reports and White Papers
A wave of new reports is shaping global conversations on AI governance, ethics, and public sector innovation. The AI and Democratic Values Index 2025, covering 80 countries, benchmarks how national AI strategies align with democratic norms, offering crucial guidance for governments aiming to balance innovation with accountability. Meanwhile, the Swiss Federal Administration has released a report detailing how AI is being integrated into public sector decision-making, offering insights into best practices and ethical considerations. In the UK, the Public Accounts Committee has released a significant report identifying critical gaps in government preparedness for AI adoption, specifically pointing to deficiencies in leadership structures, data infrastructure, and technical capabilities across departments and findings that will likely drive substantial reforms in public sector AI strategy. A standout highlight this month is the Stanford HAI AI Index 2024, which presents a comprehensive analysis of global AI trends. The report tracks developments in research, investment, and regulation, noting a sharp rise in foundation model deployments and growing emphasis on safety, transparency, and workforce impact. It is an essential read for anyone navigating the evolving AI landscape.
Blogs: The digital policy landscape is enriched by diverse voices across sectors. The UK’s Women in AI series spotlights innovators shaping the field, while OECD.AI explores Anthropic’s transparency framework. Apple’s research team advances practical methods for differential privacy in AI. McKinsey examines the synergy of digital twins and generative AI, and AI News unpacks the EU AI Act’s impact on UK businesses. MIT Tech Review reveals the paradox of underused AI data centers in China, alongside a novel “Third House” proposal integrating AI into democracy. Prof Marta Poblet explores copyright in generative AI, while MIT Media Lab proposes AI-LPM for inclusive civic planning. Project Syndicate critiques Europe’s tech strategy, and Tech Policy Press analyses the EU’s combined regulatory-investment AI leadership model. OECD.AI emphasises technical standards as critical to implementing the EU AI Act.
Opportunities: The AI policy space offers growing opportunities. The Open Data Policy Lab’s New Commons Challenge seeks fresh ideas in data governance. Funding includes British Academy/Leverhulme grants and UK-Japan calls on human-centered AI. UKRI’s 2025 Policy Fellowships open doors to advisory roles. Academic positions, and research roles are available at the Alan Turing Institute, University of Cambridge, and University of St Andrews. The European Commission’s Call for Evidence also invites contributions to shape the continent’s AI strategy in science.
To explore the full content of the April’25 newsletter, click here.
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