Episode Overview
In this inspiring keynote, Ott Velsberg, Government Chief Data Officer of Estonia, takes us behind the scenes of one of the world’s most advanced digital nations. Since joining the government in 2018, Ott has helped drive Estonia’s bold journey from early AI skepticism to becoming a global leader in data innovation and AI-driven governance.
He shares how Estonia’s citizen-first approach—grounded in transparency, trust, and human control—has shaped a data ecosystem where 99% of services are online, and digital identity empowers every citizen. From proactive family benefits to AI-powered service delivery, Estonia’s model shows how technology and policy can work hand in hand to make government more responsive, efficient, and inclusive.
What You’ll Learn
Building the Foundations of a Data-Driven Nation:
Discover how Estonia’s e-government infrastructure—anchored by its X-Road data exchange platform—enables secure, seamless communication between public and private sectors.
AI for Public Value:
Hear how Estonia’s AI Strategy evolved through three national action plans, driving real impact across education, agriculture, and public administration. Learn about groundbreaking projects like AI-powered teaching tools, satellite-based farm monitoring, and automated document analysis that save thousands of hours each year.
Trust by Design:
Ott unpacks Estonia’s human-centered data philosophy built on security, control, and transparency. Through services like Consent Service and Data Tracker, citizens can see exactly how their data is used and manage permissions in real time—fueling 95% trust in government data practices.
Scaling AI Responsibly:
Explore how Estonia balances innovation and accountability—rolling out AI literacy initiatives, national data portals, and sandbox environments to test new solutions safely.
Key Takeaways
Trust, not tech, is the foundation of digital transformation. Estonia’s success lies in giving citizens control over their data.
Data quality, governance, and interoperability are essential for sustainable AI innovation.
Collaboration fuels progress: Government, academia, and the private sector must work hand in hand to build responsible, scalable data ecosystems.
AI should serve humanity, not replace it. Estonia’s “bureaucrat” concept envisions AI agents that support—not substitute—public servants.
Why You Should Listen
If you’re a policymaker, data strategist, or digital transformation leader, this episode is a masterclass in how to turn vision into implementation. Ott Velsberg shares not only Estonia’s blueprint for data and AI excellence but also practical lessons any government or organisation can apply to build trustworthy, human-centric digital services.
🎧 Tune in to learn how Estonia is building the future of government—where data, trust, and AI converge to empower every citizen.
Recommendations
GIW QLD: Putting Trusted Data in the Hands of the Public Sector
The Importance of AI Assurance: Ensuring Trustworthy AI Systems
Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) simplifies processes with genAI
GIW Federal 2025: Industry Insights on being AI ready with Ian Jansen
