Enabling an Open-Source AI Ecosystem as a Building Block for Public AI


Policy brief by Katarzyna Odrozek, Vidisha Mishra, Anshul Pachouri, Arnav Nigam: “…informed by insights from 30 open dataset builders convened by Mozilla and EleutherAI and a policy analysis on open-source Artificial intelligence (AI) development, outlines four key areas for G7 action: expand access to open data, support sustainable governance, encourage policy alignment in open-source AI and local capacity building and identification of use cases. These steps will enhance AI competitiveness, accountability, and innovation, positioning the G7 as a leader in Responsible AI development…(More)”.

AI Liability Along the Value Chain


Report by Beatriz Botero Arcila: “…explores how liability law can help solve the “problem of many hands” in AI: that is, determining who is responsible for harm that has been dealt in a value chain in which a variety of different companies and actors might be contributing to the development of any given AI system. This is aggravated by the fact that AI systems are both opaque and technically complex, making their behavior hard to predict.

Why AI Liability Matters

To find meaningful solutions to this problem, different kinds of experts have to come together. This resource is designed for a wide audience, but we indicate how specific audiences can best make use of different sections, overviews, and case studies.

Specifically, the report:

  • Proposes a 3-step analysis to consider how liability should be allocated along the value chain: 1) The choice of liability regime, 2) how liability should be shared amongst actors along the value chain and 3) whether and how information asymmetries will be addressed.
  • Argues that where ex-ante AI regulation is already in place, policymakers should consider how liability rules will interact with these rules.
  • Proposes a baseline liability regime where actors along the AI value chain share responsibility if fault can be demonstrated, paired with measures to alleviate or shift the burden of proof and to enable better access to evidence — which would incentivize companies to act with sufficient care and address information asymmetries between claimants and companies.
  • Argues that in some cases, courts and regulators should extend a stricter regime, such as product liability or strict liability.
  • Analyzes liability rules in the EU based on this framework…(More)”.

Beyond data egoism: let’s embrace data altruism


Blog by Frank Hamerlinck: “When it comes to data sharing, there’s often a gap between ambition and reality. Many organizations recognize the potential of data collaboration, yet when it comes down to sharing their own data, hesitation kicks in. The concern? Costs, risks, and unclear returns. At the same time, there’s strong enthusiasm for accessing data.

This is the paradox we need to break. Because if data egoism rules, real innovation is out of reach, making the need for data altruism more urgent than ever.

…More and more leaders recognize that unlocking data is essential to staying competitive on a global scale, and they understand that we must do so while upholding our European values. However, the real challenge lies in translating this growing willingness into concrete action. Many acknowledge its importance in principle, but few are ready to take the first step. And that’s a challenge we need to address – not just as organizations but as a society…

To break down barriers and accelerate data-driven innovation, we’re launching the FTI Data Catalog – a step toward making data sharing easier, more transparent, and more impactful.

The catalog provides a structured, accessible overview of available datasets, from location data and financial data to well-being data. It allows organizations to discover, understand, and responsibly leverage data with ease. Whether you’re looking for insights to fuel innovation, enhance decision-making, drive new partnerships or unlock new value from your own data, the catalog is built to support open and secure data exchange.

Feeling curious? Explore the catalog

By making data more accessible, we’re laying the foundation for a culture of collaboration. The road to data altruism is long, but it’s one worth walking. The future belongs to those who dare to share!..(More)”

Data Collaborations How-to-Guide


Resource by The Data for Children Collaborative: “… excited to share a consolidation of 5 years of learning in one handy how-to-guide. Our ethos is to openly share tools, approaches and frameworks that may benefit others working in the Data for Good space. We have developed this guide specifically to support organisations working on complex challenges that may have data-driven solutions. The How-to-Guide provides advice and examples of how to plan and execute collaboration on a data project effectively…  

Data collaboration can provide organisations with high-quality, evidence-based insights that drive policy and practice while bringing together diverse perspectives to solve problems. It also fosters innovation, builds networks for future collaboration, and ensures effective implementation of solutions on the ground…(More)”.

Harnessing Mission Governance to Achieve National Climate Targets


OECD Report: “To achieve ambitious climate targets under the Paris Agreement, countries need more than political will – they need effective governance. This report examines how a mission-oriented approach can transform climate action. Analysing 15 countries’ climate council assessments, the report reveals that, while many nations are incorporating elements of mission governance, significant gaps remain. It highlights promising examples of whole-of-government approaches, while identifying key challenges, such as limited societal engagement, weak co-ordination, and a lack of focus on experimentation and ecosystem mobilisation. The report argues that national climate commitments effectively function as overarching missions, and thus, can greatly benefit from applying mission governance principles. It recommends integrating missions into climate mitigation efforts, applying these principles to policy design and implementation, and deploying targeted missions to address specific climate challenges. By embracing a holistic, mission-driven strategy, countries can enhance their climate action and achieve their ambitious targets…(More)”.

AI, Innovation and the Public Good: A New Policy Playbook


Paper by Burcu Kilic: “When Chinese start-up DeepSeek released R1 in January 2025, the groundbreaking open-source artificial intelligence (AI) model rocked the tech industry as a more cost-effective alternative to models running on more advanced chips. The launch coincided with industrial policy gaining popularity as a strategic tool for governments aiming to build AI capacity and competitiveness. Once dismissed under neoliberal economic frameworks, industrial policy is making a strong comeback with more governments worldwide embracing it to build digital public infrastructure and foster local AI ecosystems. This paper examines how the national innovation system framework can guide AI industrial policy to foster innovation and reduce reliance on dominant tech companies…(More)”.

Legal frictions for data openness


Paper by Ramya Chandrasekhar: “investigates legal entanglements of re-use, when data and content from the open web is used to train foundation AI models. Based on conversations with AI researchers and practitioners, an online workshop, and legal analysis of a repository of 41 legal disputes relating to copyright and data protection, this report highlights tensions between legal imaginations of data flows and computational processes involved in training foundation models.

To realise the promise of the open web as open for all, this report argues that efforts oriented solely towards techno-legal openness of training datasets are not enough. Techno-legal openness of datasets facilitates easy re-use of data. But, certain well-resourced actors like Big Tech are able to take advantage of data flows on the open web to internet to train proprietary foundation models, while giving little to no value back to either the maintenance of shared informational resources or communities of commoners. At the same time, open licenses no longer accommodate changing community preferences of sharing and re-use of data and content.
In addition to techno-legal openness of training datasets, there is a need for certain limits on the extractive power of well-resourced actors like BigTech combined with increased recognition of community data sovereignty. Alternative licensing frameworks, such as the Nwulite Obodo License, Kaitiakitanga Licenses, the Montreal License, the OpenRAIL Licenses, the Open Data Commons License, and the AI2Impact Licenses hold valuable insights in this regard. While these licensing frameworks impose more obligations on re-users and necessitate more collective thinking on interoperability,they are nonetheless necessary for the creation of healthy digital and data commons, to realise the original promise of the open web as open for all…(More)”.

Robotics for Global development


Report by the Frontier Tech Hub: “Robotics could enable progress on 46% of SDG targets  yet this potential remains largely untapped in low and middle-income countries. 

While technological developments and new-found applications of artificial intelligence (AI) keep captivating significant attention and investments, using robotics to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is consistently overlooked. This is especially true when the focus moves from aerial robotics (drones) to robotic arms, ground robotics, and aquatic robotics. How might these types of robots accelerate global development in the least developed countries? 

We aim to answer this question and inform the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s (FCDO) investment and policy towards robotics in the least developed countries (LDCs). In an emergent space, the UK FCDO has a unique opportunity to position itself as a global leader in leveraging robotics technology to accelerate sustainable development outcomes…(More)”.

Which Data Do Economists Use to Study Corruption ?


World Bank paper: “…examines the data sources and methodologies used in economic research on corruption by analyzing 339 journal articles published in 2022 that include Journal of Economic Literature codes. The paper identifies the most commonly used data types, sources, and geographical foci, as well as whether studies primarily investigate the causes or consequences of corruption. Cross-country composite indicators remain the dominant measure, while single country studies more frequently utilize administrative data. Articles in ranked journals are more likely to employ administrative and experimental data and focus on the causes of corruption. The broader dataset of 882 articles highlights the significant academic interest in corruption across disciplines, particularly in political science and public policy. The findings raise concerns about the limited use of novel data sources and the relative neglect of research on the causes of corruption, underscoring the need for a more integrated approach within the field of economics…(More)”.

2025 Ratings for Digital Participation Tools


People-Powered Report: The latest edition of our Digital Participation Tool Ratings evaluates 30 comprehensive tools that have been used to support digital participation all over the world. This year’s ratings offer more information and insights on each tool to help you select a suitable tool for your context and needs. We also researched how AI tools and features fit into the current digital participation landscape. 

For the last four years, People Powered has been committed to providing governments and organizations with digital participation guidance, to enable people leading participatory programs and citizen engagement efforts to effectively select and use digital participation tools by providing guidance and ratings for tools. These ratings are the latest edition of the evaluations first launched in 2022. Further guidance about how to use these tools is available from our Guide to Digital Participation Platforms and Online Training on Digital Participation…(More)”.