As part of the International Statistical Institute (ISI) World Statistical Congress, a high-level side event on AI Readiness and Official Statistics was held at Leiden University’s Wijnhaven campus in The Hague. The session brought together senior representatives from international organisations, national statistical institutes, academia, and the private sector to address how official statistics can adapt to the rapid development of artificial intelligence.
The discussions focused on preparing data and statistical systems for AI use, with particular attention to governance, data privacy, and collaboration with large language model providers. Speakers examined how National Statistical Institutes can ensure that official statistics remain trustworthy, accessible, and aligned with international standards in an AI-driven environment.
The event featured contributions from organisations including UNESCO, OECD, IMF, World Bank, national statistical offices, and technology partners. Professor Lampros Stergioulas participated in the session through his role within the UNESCO Chair in AI and Data Science for Society, contributing to the dialogue on responsible, ethical, and future-ready approaches to official statistics.