How do citizens perceive the use of AI in government? While AI has the potential to improve efficiency and service quality, it may also influence public trust—either strengthening it through better performance or undermining it if it is perceived as unfair or inappropriate. How these systems should be designed and deployed in ways that align with citizens’ expectations, feelings, and needs remains an open question. Emerging evidence is beginning to shed light on these dynamics, yet the topic remains under-discussed in current policy debates. 

Generative AI is rapidly reshaping government operations, with public employees increasingly relying on commercial tools - often in informal or “shadow” modes that are difficult to monitor and govern. At the same time, administrations are beginning to experiment with governance approaches, including secure-by-design environments, guidelines, and training initiatives, although these efforts remain fragmented. Tensions between innovation, control, and safety are emerging, and the optimal balance between these dimensions is still to be defined. 

We are pleased to invite you to the upcoming LDT4SSC & LDT Toolbox Joint Needs Assessment Workshop, taking place online on 13 May 2026 from 10:00 to 11:30 CET.

The Living-in.EU initiative will be represented at the 1st Global Digital Rights Forum, taking place on 13–14 May at Llotja de Mar in Barcelona.

The forum is an open space for discussing the challenges of the digital environment in a clear and accessible way, bringing together public authorities, experts, civil society, and innovation actors to reflect on digital rights and democratic digital transformation.

The Living-in.EU initiative will be featured at the ISPIM Innovation Conference 2026, taking place from 7–10 June 2026 in Granada. Organised under the theme “Connecting for Innovation”, the conference brings together innovation professionals from academia, industry, consultancy, and the public sector to exchange experiences and explore collaborative approaches to innovation.

As every year, GoLiEU partner European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL) is organising its flagship event, OpenLivingLab Days. The 2026 edition of OpenLivingLab Days will start in Brussels, with a Policy Event held on 29 September that will foster high-level dialogue between EU institutions and the Living Lab community. 

SPACE4CITIES is a Horizon Europe project on satellite-data solutions for urban and environmental planners that are being developed as part of a Pre-Commercial Procurement, in which a range of companies and the cities of Amsterdam, Helsinki, Athens, Guimaraes and Ghent work closely together. In this two-part webinar series on 27 and 28 May, the Top 10 selected suppliers will showcase in practice the real prototypes and demonstrations that they are developing.

SPACE4CITIES is a Horizon Europe project on satellite-data solutions for urban and environmental planners that are being developed as part of a Pre-Commercial Procurement, in which a range of companies and the cities of Amsterdam, Helsinki, Athens, Guimaraes and Ghent work closely together. In this two-part webinar series on 27 and 28 May, the Top 10 selected suppliers will showcase in practice the real prototypes and demonstrations that they are developing.

From June 1–5, 2026, the New Town Hall in Leipzig will once again become the meeting place for everyone interested in shaping cities, digitalization, and artificial intelligence together. #DataWeekLeipzig brings together experts from academia, business, and public administration in an interdisciplinary, hands-on, and forward-looking way – with a focus on climate, energy, and sustainable urban development.