How can cities and communities move beyond discussing AI ethics to actually putting responsible practices into action? On 13 October 2026, we brought together representatives from cities, academia, civil society and industry for the first Knowledge Exchange Webinar, exploring the challenges, responsibilities and practical approaches to ethical AI.

Under the theme “AI & Ethics: From big questions to shared understanding”, the session marked the launch of OASC’s new monthly webinar series, designed to foster meaningful exchanges around topics identified by its members and wider community.

Opening the session, OASC Chair and Executive Director Karl-Filip Coenegrachts highlighted the importance of addressing AI ethics not only as a theoretical challenge, but as a practical responsibility for organisations navigating digital transformation.

Moderated by Sophie Meszaros, OASC Interoperability Strategy Lead, the webinar combined an expert keynote, reflections from European initiatives and an interactive discussion with participants.

Here’s the full recording of the webinar: 

From principles to practice: key insights from the discussion

Throughout the session, speakers shared perspectives and practical experiences on how cities and communities can approach AI more responsibly.

Prof. Dr. Rob Heyman opened the discussion by exploring the challenges of anticipating the ethical implications of emerging technologies. He emphasised the importance of moving beyond principles and embedding ethics into everyday practices, with clear responsibilities, dedicated resources and concrete objectives.

The conversation then brought together experiences from Tampere, Rotterdam, Our Normal Association, iLabs and Libelium, highlighting several interconnected priorities:

• Empowering citizens: Strengthening AI literacy, critical thinking and public participation to ensure communities have a voice in shaping technological developments.

• Designing for inclusion: Involving diverse communities, particularly people with disabilities, to develop accessible and human-centred digital solutions.

• Embedding ethics throughout the process: Integrating accountability, transparency and continuous monitoring into the entire lifecycle of AI projects.

• Learning from one another: Bringing together cities, academia, civil society and industry to exchange experiences and address common challenges.

The discussion also highlighted an important message: responsible AI is not simply about anticipating risks, but about making conscious choices throughout the development and implementation of technology.

Explore the materials

Missed something or want to dive deeper into the topics discussed?

Explore the presentations and additional resources shared by our speakers.

This first edition marks the beginning of OASC’s Knowledge Exchange Webinar series, creating opportunities for open dialogue, practical learning and shared understanding across our community.

Stay tuned for our next session!