AI: Policy Research Clinic with the City of Helsinki

How can artificial intelligence (AI) support students' learning, wellbeing, and retention in public schools — without infringing on students’ rights? How can approaches to the governance and oversight of AI designed for one city’s education system be used to guide AI applications on a global scale?

During the summer of 2021, the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society collaborated with the City of Helsinki’s Education Division and their subcontractor, Saidot, to explore these questions in a three-week educational program, the AI Policy Research Clinic. Drawing on expertise in law, public policy, computer science, and education, a dozen early-career scholars from across the globe convened to support the development of participatory design models and human accountability structures for AI use in Helsinki’s vocational education and training program. 

By focusing on real-world use cases, the program examined how to translate AI ethics and governance principles into practice, in an educational setting. The graduate student participants gathered virtually with their Helsinki partners for in-depth workshops, discussions, and plenary sessions.  

This research clinic was part of the Ethics of Digitalization project led by the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG), the Berkman Klein Center, and the Digital Asia Hub, and in collaboration with the Global Network of Internet & Society Centers (NoC).

Participants

Output

• A New Approach to Experiential Learning

Group 1 output: 

• AI Policy Playbook
• Model for Human Oversight
• Wireframe
• Translational Matrix

Group 2 output: 

• The Playbook on participation and accountability in City Challenges
• Method for tackling city challenges