What added value can artificial intelligence bring to a modern city and its inhabitants? How much must and should this fast-growing technology be regulated to enable progress while protecting citizens' rights? These questions were the focus of Digital Days 2024, which attracted 1,250 visitors from 22 to 24 October.
Themed 'Think Human. Act Digital', Digital Days 2024 also offered exciting insights into the latest digital research results and projects, in which the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, as a long-standing partner of the Digital.City Vienna initiative, once again played a central role. Michael Mürling, Head of Marketing and Communications at the AIT Center for Digital Safety & Security, spoke about 'Humanistic AI in Vienna | AI and I: The Citizens' Perspective', moderated by Sophie Zechmeister, TEDx speaker and expert at UIV Urban Innovation Vienna, together with Daniela Berndl-Schwerdtner, Head of Jobs PLUS Training waff, Gerald Bader, Head of AI & Analytics Eviden, Prof. Siegfried Meryn, Founder & CEO Future Health Lab and Univ. Prof. Laura Kovacs, TU Vienna. He explained the "human-in-the-loop" approach, which aims to put people at the centre of the development and application of AI tools. This approach, which has been a key element in projects such as the award-winning Fake-Shop Detector, promotes trust in AI by making users more aware of how these tools work and thus more likely to question them critically. In addition to the panel discussion, the Fake-Shop Detector was presented the day before at the UIV Urban Innovation Vienna Forum by AIT project manager Andrew Lindley and project partner Wolfgang Eibner, head of software development at X-Net Group.
Another panel, 'AI and the Economy', discussed issues affecting the private sector. How can the private sector contribute to the development of digital and humane artificial intelligence? What best practices already exist and what challenges remain? Manfred Tscheligi, Head of the Centre for Technology Experience at AIT, discussed these questions with Markus Grausam, CEO of A1 Telekom Austria, Marco Porak, General Director of IBM Austria, Tatjana Šajatović, Manager of Public Affairs & AI Expert at Accenture DACH, and Eva Czernohorsky, Head of Technology Services at the Vienna Business Agency. The discussion was moderated by Lisa Höllbacher, co-founder of tech data startups unbuzz & nexyo. The conclusion: AI is here to stay - companies would be well advised to use AI intelligently as an assisting system. However, this also means using AI responsibly, and the issue of AI literacy is also very important, the experts agreed.
At the AIT stand, Martin Boyer, an expert in AI-based image and video analysis at the Center for Digital Safety & Security, demonstrated these tools in action. In addition, experts from the Center for Technology Experience presented cutting-edge technologies that the audience could try out for themselves: for example, a VR drone flight offered the opportunity to virtually experience Vienna-Schwechat up to the UN City using a VR headset. Visitors of all ages were also able to use the 'Tactile Multimedia Guide', which interactively brought the painting 'The Bird Thief' to life - with a tactile relief, acoustic information and explanations in sign language. These practical examples of digitisation and AI demonstrated how the responsible use of technology can enrich society, and the importance of education and awareness raising for the use of trustworthy AI.
Anniversary and new mission
A special feature of the programme was the presentation of the Digital.City Vienna mission statement to representatives of the city's political leadership. This was renewed on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of Digital.City Vienna, which was duly celebrated by all participants on site. For more information on this, the awarding of the Hedy Lamarr Prize 2024 and other content, please visit https://digitales.wien.gv.at/digital-days-2024-rueckblick/.