Panel: Strategies for a Public AI: cooperation for sovereignty, governance and resilience
Panelists:
- Enric Biosca Trias – Chief Data Technology Officer, Barcelona City Council
- Jaume Miralles Solé – Director General for Artificial Intelligence, Efficiency and Data in Public Administration of the Government of Catalonia (DGIA)
- Alberto Gago Fernández – Director of Spanish Agency for the Supervision of Artificial Intelligence (AESIA).
Chair: Luca Cominassi – External Consultant, Barcelona Supercomputing Centre
Panel Abstract:
As AI becomes essential infrastructure, the public sector faces a critical choice: rely on private platforms, or develop and govern AI in the public interest. This panel will explore how to orchestrate AI development under transparent governance, public accountability and a clear focus on public-purpose functions. The pioneering initiatives undertaken by Spain and Catalonia – including those led by the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, such as ALIA and the AI Factory – point in this direction and could serve as a model for multilateral collaboration as well.
Questions:
- Is our limited public capacity in AI constraining our collective ability to shape its direction? If this is true, how do we ensure that AI delivers benefits for all and reflects broader societal values?
- What would it look like to treat AI more like a public utility: transparent, accountable, and designed to serve shared goals?
- How can governments use their purchasing power to shape the AI market in ways that deepen democracy and strengthen institutions?
- The European Commission recently adopted a new Tech Sovereignty package aimed at reducing Europe’s reliance on non-EU providers for key technologies, data, and infrastructure: are we heading in the right direction?
