Data, People, and Pre-Empting Mass Exclusion: Building Ethical AI as Digital Public Infrastructure

This is a focused session examining how AI in public services can unintentionally exclude vulnerable communities and how such risks can be anticipated and mitigated. Anchored in community-centric design and inclusive data governance, the discussion will connect grassroots realities with ethics, policy, and safety perspectives, positioning AI as a transparent, accountable, and people-first Digital Public Infrastructure that enables social empowerment rather than mass exclusion.