Emerging technologies and open data: Artificial Intelligence

We release a new series of reports in datos.gob.es, which under the methodology “Awareness, Inspire, Action” tries to explain how different emerging technologies work and their relationship with open data. The objective is to introduce the reader to the subject through the use of practical, simple and recognizable use cases.

The first report of the series is dedicated to Artificial Intelligence. We can define Artificial Intelligence (AI) as the ability of a machine to mimic human intelligence. This technology will have a great impact on our lives, in two ways: the automation of daily, routine and dangerous tasks and the increase of human capacities, helping to strengthen the work force of the future.

The report has been prepared by Alejandro Alija, expert in Digital Transformation and Innovation, and addresses the following contents:

• The report begins with the Awareness section where the concept of AI is explained in a simple way, briefly outlining two of its sub-fields: Machine Learning and Deep Learning. This section also includes a brief historical review, where the evolution of AI is reviewed, and the factors that make it possible are compiled and explained.
• Next, in the Inspire section, we deep on the AI use cases. For this, the author has taken as reference his two areas of impact: AI as an amplifier of human language, with tasks such as reports translation or conversion of written to spoken language (and vice versa), and AI as an extension of human vision, illustrated through examples of the use of image recognition and classification.
• Finally, in the Action section one of the use case mentioned in the Inspire section is developed: the recognition and classification of images. For them, a set of images has been selected available in the data catalogue of data.gob.es (the photographic archive of the Basque Government: images about Euskadi and the Government activity). Using AI tools, the images have been classified and their description noted. This example can be replicated by the reader since the code necessary for its development has been made available.

The report ends with a list of resources and readings for those users who wish to continue expanding their knowledge about Artificial Intelligence.

You can also download the full report and other additional materials in the following links:

Note: The published code is intended to be a guide for the reader, but may require external dependencies or specific configurations for each user who wants to run it.