Major funding for collaboration on infrastructure and research in responsible AI
The National Center for AI in Society (CAISA) has received DKK 45 million from the research reserve for a new AI collaboration with Statistics Denmark. This follows an agreement by the parties behind the research reserve on the allocation of next year's funding.
The collaboration between CAISA and Statistics Denmark aims to strengthen both research in responsible artificial intelligence (AI) and the infrastructure that enables such research - for the benefit of society as a whole.
“With the partnership between CAISA and Statistics Denmark, we have a unique opportunity to combine world-leading research expertise with a unique national data infrastructure. This collaboration can help ensure that Denmark remains at the forefront - both in leveraging the opportunities of AI and in placing citizens’ rights and trust at the centre,” (Translated) says Andreas Bjerre-Nielsen, Senior Researcher at CAISA and Associate Professor of Social Data Science and Economics at the University of Copenhagen.
Two interconnected initiatives
The collaboration is built on two closely linked initiatives that reinforce each other:
The first focuses on strengthening and modernising AI research infrastructure at Statistics Denmark which has a long tradition of providing data for research. The goal is to enable Danish researchers to work securely with new and complex data sources - such as unstructured data - and to train large-scale AI models on Danish register data within a secure analytical environment using modern hardware.
The second initiative aims to generate new knowledge on the responsible use of AI algorithms in society. By leveraging Statistics Denmark’s data and infrastructure, the project will explore how to develop a platform that ensures algorithms used in Denmark meet key standards such as fairness, transparency, and trust. The research will also examine how to maintain or improve the functionality of AI systems over time, even after deployment.
“For 35 years, Statistics Denmark has provided high-quality, well-documented data for research in a secure manner. This must continue as technology and demand evolve. I am pleased that CAISA and Statistics Denmark are taking this important next step together, enabling researchers across Denmark to work safely and responsibly with new technologies using our data and beyond,” (Translated) says Martin Ulrik Jensen, National Statistician at Statistics Denmark.
CAISA actively prioritises international engagement and welcomes opportunities to present our distinctive interdisciplinary AI research model.
We have met with delegations from countries including Norway, Estonia, and Germany. Most recently, we hosted Nigeria's Minister of digital affairs, Innovation and Digital Economy, H.E. Dr Bosun Tijani, and his delegation. The Nigerian delegation shared their strategic plans to install 90,000 km of fibre-optic cables to strengthen national digital infrastructure, as well as the strong enthusiasm for AI among Nigeria’s young population.
Among other things, CAISA highlighted the importance of research on how artificial intelligence can be developed and applied in a responsible and democratic way.
CAISA is proud to announce that our Deputy Director, Thomas Moeslund, has been appointed as a new member of the Danish Data Ethics Council. The appointment reflects his longstanding contributions to research in artificial intelligence and computer vision, as well as his strong commitment to resonsible AI and ethical technology development.
As a professor at Aalborg University and an internationally recognised researcher, Thomas has worked extensively on the intersection between advanced algorithmic methods and their societal implications. His research spans from foundational methodological development to applied AI solutions, with a focus on transparency, fairness, autonomy, and long-term impact.
Data ethics as the foundation for responsible AI
At a time when developments in artificial intelligence are advancing faster than both regulation and society’s shared understanding, the need for strong data ethics and responsible AI governanceis becoming increasingly urgent. Manipulated content, automated decision-making, and new applications of generative AI are creating significant challenges for citizens, businesses, and policymakers alike.
Thomas Moeslund highlights the importance of a robust ethical foundation:
“Data ethics, for me, is not an afterthought, but an integral part of the research, development and implementation of technology.” (Translated)
His perspective emphasizes that responsible AI cannot be separated from technical development, but must be embedded from the outset - from datasets and model design to implementation and real-world use.
The role of the Council in a complex technological landscape
As a member of the Danish Data Ethics Council, Thomas Moeslund will play a key role in addressing the ethical challenges arising from the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI). This includes issues related to misinformation, algorithmic bias, and the impact of AI systems on democratic processes and societal structures.
On the Council's role, Thomas explains:
“The Council can act as a bridge between technical experts, policymakers, businesses, and citizens - both by establishing shared ethical standards and proactive solutions before problems escalate, and by communicating these issues to the broader public.” (Translated)
His appointment brings a strong technological and research-based perspective to the Council, helping to ensure a responsible and human-centred development and use of AI in Denmark.
CAISA's perspective
At CAISA, we work to advance human-centred and responsible AI, and the appointment of Thomas Moeslund reflects exactly the type og expertise needed to develop AI solutions that are both technically advanced and ethically robust.
We look forward to contributing to this work through research-based insights and interdeciplinary perspectives from CAISA - and to follow Thomas's important role in shaping Denmark's national data ethics agenda.
This research brief presents a systematic literature review of what current research literature conveys about the implementation and use of chatbots in public sector workflows and in interactions with citizens. The purpose of this research brief is to identify and analyze both the opportunities and challenges within this domain through a systematic synthesis of existing empirical research on the implementation and use of, as well as citizens’ attitudes toward and experience with, chatbots in the public sector. The brief shows that chatbots can contribute effectively to certain tasks in the public sector; however, they also generate new work and shifts in responsibilities for workers. From citizens’ perspective, research finds that well-educated, younger, and resourceful citizens are more likely to trust and have positive experiences with chatbots when interacting with public authorities, whereas for others, e.g., citizens with disabilities or citizens with more complex requests and challenges, chatbots create new friction in their encounters with the public sector. This may reinforce existing social and digital inequalities within the population.
