Cities are looking at a number of solutions to these problems. Some require disclosure when an AI model is used in decisions, while others mandate audits of algorithms, track where AI causes harm or seek public input before putting new AI systems in place. What would you like to see cities do to make their use of AI more transparent and fair? It will take time for cities and local bureaucracies to build expertise in these areas and figure out how to craft the best regulations, says Joanna Bryson, a professor of ethics and technology at the Hertie School in Berlin. But such efforts could provide a model for other cities, and even nations that are trying to craft standards of their own, she says.

In this commentary, we respond to a recent editorial letter by Professor Luciano Floridi entitled 'AI as a public service: Learning from Amsterdam and Helsinki'. Here, Floridi considers the positive impact of these municipal AI registers, which collect a limited number of algorithmic systems used by the city of Amsterdam and Helsinki. There are a number of assumptions about AI registers as a governance model for automated systems that we seek to question. Starting with recent attempts to normalize AI by decontextualizing and depoliticizing it, which is a fraught political project that encourages what we call 'ethics theater' given the proven dangers of using these systems in the context of the digital welfare state. We agree with Floridi that much can be learned from these registers about the role of AI systems in municipal city management. Yet, the lessons we draw, on the basis of our extensive ethnographic engagement with digital well-fare states are distinctly less optimistic.

Digitally-transformed cities can keep residents better informed with real-time updates and serve their residents with services on tap around the clock. It is hoped that these smart cities will use artificial intelligence (AI) in a wide range of use cases to make our cities safer, more livable, and healthier for residents. That said, how do we know whether that's actually the case? Amsterdam and Helsinki have recently launched algorithm registries to detail how each city government plans to deliver services. As part of the Next Generation Internet Policy Summit organized in part by the European Commission and the city of Amsterdam, each city introduced an AI Register to layout a European vision of the future of the internet.

The news cycle this week seemed to grab people by the collar and shake them violently. On Wednesday, Palantir went public. The secretive company with ties to the military, spy agencies, and ICE is reliant on government contracts and intent on racking up more sensitive data and contracts in the U.S. and overseas. Following a surveillance-as-a-service blitz last week, Amazon introduced Amazon One, which allows touchless biometric scans of people's palms for Amazon or third-party customers. The company claims palm scans are less invasive than other forms of biometric identifiers like facial recognition.

Amsterdam and Helsinki became the first two cities in the world to launch AI-based registers that log algorithms used in municipalities. Finnish developer Saidot created the registers used by both cities. The cities announced this development at the New Generation Internet Policy Summit organized by the European Commission. According to the Government AI Readiness Index 2020, Netherlands and Finland are the most prepared to adapt AI into government services. Currently, the AI registers in the two cities contain only a handful of applications.

Amsterdam and Helsinki today became the first cities in the world to launch open AI registers that track how algorithms are being used in the municipalities. In a press release, the cities said the registers would help ensure that the AI used in public services operates on the same principles of responsibility, transparency, and security as other local government activities. "Algorithms play an increasingly important role in our lives," said Touria Meliani, Deputy Mayor of Amsterdam. "Together with the city of Helsinki, we are on a mission to create as much understanding about algorithms as possible and be transparent about the way we -- as cities -- use them. Today we take another important step with the launch of these algorithm registers."