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HOPU
HOPU brings urban innovation through the latest technologies such as AI, IoT and Data-Quality.
ID: 797457737762-47
Lobbying Activity
Response to Establishment of the scientific panel of independent experts under the AI Act – implementing regulation
4 Nov 2024
The European Union's AI Act represents a critical step in shaping responsible AI regulation, fostering transparency, and safeguarding citizen rights across diverse applications. Our commitment to FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) and Ethical AI aligns strongly with the AI Act's objectives. We are committed to not only meeting but advancing the Act's vision through active participation in the expert panel, leveraging our experience and resources in Testing and Experimentation Facilities (TEFs), particularly initiatives like Citcom.AI, and as technical coordinator of the Local Digital Twin Toolbox. 1. Testing and Experimentation Facilities (TEFs) in Action: Citcom.AI As a flagship initiative, Citcom.AI plays a pivotal role in assessing and validating AI solutions within urban contexts, ensuring the Act's goals translate effectively into real-world applications. TEFs provide a structured environment where AI-driven solutions can be rigorously tested against compliance, privacy, and safety standards. By integrating these facilities into the AI Act framework, the EU can leverage a controlled, reliable setting for AI validation, ultimately increasing trust and minimizing risks in urban and environmental applications. 2. The Local Digital Twin Toolbox: A Resource for EU Urban Transformation The Local Digital Twin Toolbox embodies an essential platform for cities to digitally simulate and manage their operations, driving innovation in public services and urban planning. As technical coordinator, we aim to align this tool with AI Act guidelines, enabling compliance through predictive models that use real-time data from urban settings. This initiative supports EU objectives in energy efficiency, sustainability, and quality of life improvements, with added emphasis on ethical data usage and AI transparency. 3. Commitment to FAIR and Ethical AI Principles Our certification lab (ISO 17025, ISO 25010), underpinned by FAIR AI standards, demonstrates our commitment to responsible AI. Ensuring that data and algorithms adhere to these principles will strengthen the AI Act's ethical foundation. We believe that incorporating FAIR methodologies in data spaces and certification will help refine and validate algorithms, fostering a reliable AI ecosystem that prioritizes transparency and accountability. Our lab provides the necessary environment to assess AI solutions, particularly those deployed in high-impact sectors like urban planning, environmental management, and smart energy solutions, thus ensuring alignment with both ISO standards and AI Act requirements. 4. AI Act Implications in Urban and Environmental Use-Cases Addressing the AI Act's application in urban settings, environmental monitoring, and Green Deal objectives is paramount. With urban data, such as neighborhood demographics, quality of life indicators, and utility datasets (energy and water usage), AI can offer transformative insights. However, the Act's strict guidance on personal data usage must be balanced with the benefits AI brings to sustainable urban development. Through TEFs, our initiatives can test, validate, and refine AI models to ensure compliance, accuracy, and ethical use of sensitive data. Furthermore, AI's role in monitoring environmental factors aligns with the EU's goals for reduced carbon emissions and greener urban areas. The Expert Panel Members should include these skills and experiences, for that reason my proposition to include these backgrounds with successful AI applications in city transformation and environmental data analytics, who are well-positioned to contribute to the AI Act's objectives. The expertise in TEFs and local digital twin technologies will provide valuable insights and promote robust AI standards across urban and environmental sectors. We are eager to join the expert panel, bringing our technical experience and dedication to responsible, FAIR, and ethical AI to aid in the AI Acts implementation and success.
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