Self-learning AI is shaping the future – but what data is it actually basing its decisions on? According to AI and societal analysis expert Anders Elias, open data is a crucial piece of the puzzle for AI to generate insights that can truly be trusted. For those looking to leverage AI for analysis and decision-making, it’s more important than ever to understand why open data matters.
What do AI, open data, and urban planning have in common? A lot, according to Anders Elias. With a background in engineering and system development, he has extensive experience in data-driven analysis. Today, he runs Aelia Consulting AB, a firm specializing in AI training with a focus on data-driven decision-making. His expertise lies in demonstrating how AI and open data together can create smarter insights for better planning and policy-making.
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– I teach AI for societal analysis, always with open data at the core. AI can, of course, be applied to other types of data as well, but it’s when AI meets the right kind of structured data that the magic truly happens, says Elias.
In his courses, participants explore how open data, geospatial data, and statistical information can be combined with AI to analyze and visualize complex societal issues. Generative AI – AI that not only analyzes data but also generates insights by recognizing patterns and creating explanatory text and visuals – plays a key role. Through hands-on exercises, participants test how AI can be used to map urban development, climate adaptation, traffic flows, and socioeconomic trends.
The goal is twofold: to make analysis faster and more accessible while also ensuring that participants understand the importance of structured, high-quality, and open data. No matter how advanced AI becomes, it will always rely on the data it is trained on – this is where open data plays a fundamental role.
Open Data – Not Just for Activists
The term open data is sometimes misunderstood. Some associate it with activism – the idea that all information should be freely available at all times. In reality, open data is about something far more practical: making existing public information usable, searchable, and reusable across different sectors.
– Many people think open data is just about scrutinizing government spending or publishing financial records. Sure, that’s part of it. But it’s just as much about understanding climate change, urban growth, or transportation patterns, says Elias.
The fact is that we already live in a world where AI is entirely dependent on open data. The large AI models we use daily – such as ChatGPT, Copilot, and Gemini – are trained on a mix of sources like Wikipedia, government reports, research papers, and news articles.
– The AI of the future will be built on the data we make available today. If we want AI to provide valuable insights into climate, urban development, or social issues, we need to ensure that relevant data is open and accessible, says Elias.
What Happens When AI Gets the Right Data?
AI can be an incredibly powerful analytical tool, but only if it has high-quality data to work with. Elias compares it to trying to cook a gourmet meal without knowing which ingredients are in the pantry.
– The biggest hurdle is often just knowing that data exists. Then comes the challenge of finding it and actually gaining access to it. That’s where many organizations still struggle, he explains.
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Open data can help solve these challenges, especially when structured and standardized. AI can only produce reliable insights if the data is clearly described and organized; otherwise, the analysis may be misleading, and decision-making will suffer. This is where tools like EntryScape, among others, play an important role in making data searchable, understandable, and reusable for both humans and machines.
– Many forget that today’s generative AI wouldn’t even exist without open data. These models have been trained on freely available knowledge sources like Wikipedia, government datasets, and public research. That’s what has enabled this rapid development, Elias points out.
Democratizing Analysis – AI Needs the Right Fuel
Perhaps the most exciting aspect of AI and open data is how it democratizes access to high-quality analysis. In the past, advanced societal analysis required extensive resources and technical expertise. Now, AI can help more people analyze complex issues and make informed decisions.
– AI is like a Swiss Army knife – it can process data and reveal new insights. But without the right data, it’s just a dull blade, Elias says with a smile.
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For AI to truly be useful, we need both smart tools and structured, high-quality data. Elias emphasizes that more organizations – public and private – need to realize the importance of making their data accessible in a structured way.
– AI can be as smart as it wants to be, but if it doesn’t know how Eurostat structures its statistics or how municipal data is categorized, it won’t be able to produce meaningful insights. It’s up to us to ensure the right data is available so AI can do what it does best – highlight patterns and insights that would otherwise take months to uncover, he explains.
Future decision-making will be heavily AI-supported, but the quality of those decisions depends on the data we make available today. By prioritizing open data now, we lay the foundation for a future where AI benefits policymakers, researchers, businesses, and engaged citizens alike.
