BHAS at the DGINS Conference in Bern: How Is Artificial Intelligence Shaping the Future of Official Statistics?

The conference brought together approximately 130 representatives from around 40 national statistical institutions, Eurostat, international organisations and the technology sector. Bosnia and Herzegovina was represented by Vesna Ćužić, Director of the Agency for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Selveta Hot, Head of the Department for International Cooperation.

This year's theme, "AI Readiness and the Responsible Reuse of European Data and Official Statistics", focused on some of the most important issues concerning the future development of the European Statistical System. The conference was organised by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office and Eurostat, with the aim of exchanging experiences and agreeing on common directions for action in a period of rapid digital transformation.

Adapting Statistics to the Digital Environment

One of the key issues discussed at the conference was how to ensure that official statistics remain relevant and easily accessible at a time when an increasing number of users obtain information through artificial intelligence systems. These changes are reshaping both users' expectations and the ways in which statistical institutions communicate their data.

One of the main messages of the conference was that reliable data alone are no longer sufficient. Data must also be easily accessible, searchable and understandable, while preserving their original context and ensuring proper attribution of sources. Particular attention was therefore given to how statistical data are published and presented in the digital environment.

Trust, Quality and Responsible Data Use

Greater data accessibility creates new opportunities, but also brings additional responsibilities. Conference participants discussed the legal, ethical and practical aspects of data sharing and use, emphasising the importance of maintaining quality, statistical independence, transparency and public trust. A particular challenge is preserving the quality, context and integrity of data used by various digital platforms and artificial intelligence systems.

On the second day of the conference, workshops focused on the readiness of statistical institutions to adopt artificial intelligence, the responsible reuse of statistical data and strengthening cooperation within the European Statistical System. Discussions addressed the technical, organisational and human resource capacities required for the application of AI technologies, the development of data-sharing mechanisms, and more effective sharing of knowledge and good practices.

Key Messages for the Statistical System of Bosnia and Herzegovina

The messages from the conference are also relevant to the further development of the statistical system of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Priorities include strengthening capacities for the application of artificial intelligence, improving data interoperability and standardisation, linking statistical and administrative data sources, and developing an appropriate legal framework for their exchange and reuse, while ensuring full protection of statistical confidentiality. Coordination between the Agency for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the entity statistical institutes and institutions holding administrative data sources plays an important role in this process.

The conference in Bern confirmed that the challenges posed by artificial intelligence and digital transformation can only be successfully addressed through cooperation among European statistical institutions. While new technologies offer opportunities for developing statistical products and services, it is equally important to preserve what makes official statistics a reliable source of information: data quality and user trust.