Open Data Institute

#TheWeekinData: Knock on wood
*Datacentres targeted for attack
*AI improves breast cancer detection
*The lesser spotted woodpecker spotted (sort of)
Last week, we looked at the use of AI in modern warfare. This week, experts warned that data centres have become a new target in conflicts. Find out more…
http://theodi-748510.hs-sites.com/knockonwood

The CoCoDa project brings together technical and legal expertise to investigate systemic risks in society arising from dominant online platforms, and to determine solutions. In this 4-year research project, we aim to help create the necessary researcher access and generate accountability on dominant online platforms. Find out more.
https://theodi.org/insights/projects/odi-and-cocoda-technolegal-solutions-for-online-platform-accountability/

Announcing a FREE webinar, Thu, Mar 26, 2026, 4:00 PM GMT. Join our expert panel as they discuss how we ensure data portals actually fit the needs of the user; what designers and maintainers must consider; the National Data Library (NDL); next steps for global data infrastructure.https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dcai-13-data-portals-of-the-future-tickets-1983262912760?aff=oddtdtcreator

Benchmarking tools such as CitizenQuery-UK offer a benchmark for assessing chatbots in public service contexts using realistic citizen queries. It provides a means to understand failure modes of AI in the sensitive context of citizen’s advice, portraying where governments and industry should work together to ensure information on government policies and services is accurately disseminated by the AI chatbots ubiquitous in daily life. Find out more.
https://theodi.org/insights/reports/citizenquery-uk-benchmarking-llm-performance-in-citizen-queries-about-public-information-on-govuk/#main

#TheWeekinData: Who needs a big board?
*Concern over military use of AI
*Image Empire launch
*AI help for smallholdings
Last Friday, the US President announced that he would direct all federal agencies to immediately stop using technology developed by Anthropic, with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth labelling the AI developer a “supply chain risk”. Find out more…
http://theodi-748510.hs-sites.com/who-needs-a-big-board

How ready is open data for AI? To reap the benefits of AI, organisations need to prepare and transform their data to make it directly useful and usable in AI tasks. This can take many forms, from creating metadata and knowledge graphs to native machine learning representations like embeddings and vector databases. Find out more.
https://theodi.org/news-and-events/blog/how-ready-is-open-data-for-ai/

We’ve updated our AI-ready data framework based on feedback from the community and a number of projects in which we’ve used it. Find out more.
https://theodi.org/news-and-events/blog/bringing-governance-into-the-odi-framework-for-ai-ready-data/

#TheWeekinData: Sneak Pepys
*Speculative doomsday research
*Reddit fined by ICO
*Surviving the Great Plague
A speculative piece of research… sorry, a speculative Substack post from a US firm with the word ‘Research’ in their name… sent jitters around the US stock market this week, with foreboding predictions of how AI will change just about everything. Find out more…
http://theodi-748510.hs-sites.com/sneak-pepys

We've published a paper that reviews our progress three years into our 5 Year Strategy. It takes stock of delivery to date, examines how external conditions have continued to evolve, and sets out how the ODI is adapting its priorities and commitments for the remainder of the strategy period. Find out more.
https://theodi.org/insights/reports/state-of-the-data-nation/

Over recent months, we've been working across the volunteering system to explore whether we can improve digital services about volunteering opportunities and get more people involved. Find out more
https://theodi.org/news-and-events/blog/building-the-foundations-for-a-more-connected-volunteering-sector/

The Smart Data Challenge Prize demonstrated a broad range of smart data ideas with real-world applications. In our latest blog, we outline the benefits of smart data and introduce the prize winners. Find out more.
https://theodi.org/news-and-events/blog/smart-data-from-portability-to-interoperability/

It’s the last chance to book our FREE webinar looking at ethical AI in action! Join our panel of experts from Global Fishing Watch & the ODI for a deep dive into the reality of what this means.
https://buff.ly/0kBMpDh

#TheWeekinData: Heart of glass
*New measure for child safety online
*Glass at the heart of data storage
*Record breakers!
The UK government announced new measures this week to keep children safe online. While a consultation will take place on setting a minimum age for social media use, a new clause will be added to existing legislation that would make a ban enforceable quickly, depending on the outcome. Find out more…
http://theodi-748510.hs-sites.com/heart-of-glass

It’s the last chance to book Solid World February 2026! There’ll be updates on its development - including integration into LibreChat to enable privacy and portability of chat history with LLMs; the Solid Community Group’s 6 month workplan, and the 2026 Roadmap for Solid.

https://buff.ly/ASW7Jat

Our Annual Review for 2025 is out today. In a year when AI increasingly became part of most people’s day-to-day lives, we must remember that every part of this rapid expansion is underpinned by data. Our focus remains on strengthening the infrastructure, standards and institutions that allow data to serve the public good, both nationally and internationally. Find out more.
https://theodi.org/about-the-odi/key-documents/

#TheWeekinData: Transcription service woes
*Errors in social care transcription service
*Loyalty card data for cancer research
*Paraskevidekatriaphobia
Many local authorities have rolled out AI note-taking tools across social work in recent months, and while their time-saving benefits have been welcomed by social workers, new research published this week suggests potentially harmful errors. Find out more…
http://theodi-748510.hs-sites.com/transcription-service-woes

Join us for Solid World, where we're looking at roadmaps for its development! Including integration into LibreChat to enable privacy and portability of chat history with LLMs & the Solid Community Group’s 6 month workplan.
https://buff.ly/iRv6tw8

Read the latest edition of our Research email to explore the intersection of research, AI, data, and public policy.
*We published CitizenQuery-UK, testing Gemini, Claude, and ChatGPT models on complex government queries like taxes and benefits.
*We are supporting the Croissant 1.1 metadata update to improve documentation for hundreds of thousands of ML datasets.
*Our AI-ready data framework was featured in the DSIT guidelines for government datasets http://theodi-748510.hs-sites.com/research-highlights-jan_feb_2026

Have you booked our FREE webinar looking at ethical AI in action? Join our panel of experts from Global Fishing Watch and the ODI for a deep dive into the reality of what this means. Discover how Global Fishing Watch uses data and AI to safeguard our oceans—and how they’ve made data ethics a core pillar of their mission.

https://theodi.org/news-and-events/events/data-ethics-professional-11-ethical-ai-in-action/

#Responsible_AI #Ethics #Data_ethics #AI #Data

#TheWeekinData: Chatbot chat
*Barnsley becomes first UK “tech town”
*Social media for chatbots
*Marginal gains. Ouch!
Silicon Valley. Shenzhen. Barnsley. Yep, you heard, Barnsley. Previously famous for coal mining, a lamb chop, Kes, and only spending one season in the Premier League, the government has now announced plans to catapult Barnsley into the tech firmament. Find out more
http://theodi-748510.hs-sites.com/chatbot-chat