Through the Artificial Intelligence & Data Science for Public Administration Portugal Innovation Hub (AI4PA) project, the United Nations University Operating Unit on Policy-Driven Electronic Governance (UNU-EGOV) partnered with MatosinhosHabit to explore how local communities perceive Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its impact on their daily lives.
MatosinhosHabit is the municipal entity responsible for promoting and managing social housing in the municipality of Matosinhos.
Throughout April and May, two capacity-development programmes were delivered to thirty MatosinhosHabit employees. The training comprised ten hours of instruction across four modules: “Digital Transformation and AI”, “Responsible AI”, “AI Impact”, and “AI in Practice” (Hands-on).
These activities followed a population survey designed to assess residents’ knowledge of, trust in, and comfort with using AI in a municipal context. The 446 responses collected through the survey served as the basis for six focus groups involving participants of all ages, allowing researchers to validate and deepen the survey findings.
“People's realities vary across age groups, so I believe it is essential to listen to different generations to better understand how this implementation may affect the population and how it can serve the greatest number of people”, said Rodrigo Sousa, one of the participants.
By combining research, community participation, and digital literacy, the initiative has enabled the collection of diverse perspectives while helping to ensure that discussions about the technological future include the voices of those who live, work, and contribute to communities across Portugal.
“A society only improves when it truly listens to its people”, Rodrigo added.
About the AI4PA
The Artificial Intelligence & Data Science for Public Administration Portugal Innovation Hub (AI4PA) aims to support the digital transition of public administration by introducing Artificial Intelligence and other technologies (technically adequate and socially responsible and oriented towards the common good) to increase the effectiveness of public policies, as well as capacitating relevant stakeholders at the central, regional and local public administration and SMEs that offer digital solutions suited to the needs of the State.
This project is funded by the European Union through the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), which aims to support economic and social resilience across Member States, facilitating recovery and contributing to a more sustainable future.
