Fourth Wave Seminar #1: Why the Fourth Wave of Open Data Matters

Background

Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Copilot and Claude AI have attracted enormous attention. Yet, questions remain about how it can be used for good and support existing open data and Data for Good programs. How can generative AI help people better interface with open data? How can open data inform generative AI? How can we address the many risks and challenges facing these systems?

The Series

This webinar series explores these questions and what we call the Fourth Wave of Open Data. Emerging from the intersection of AI and open data, this new era envisions open data as more accessible through conversational interfaces, AI-ready for advanced applications, and foundational to data commons that can drive innovation while addressing public interest challenges. 

Featuring diverse voices from government, industry, and non-profits, the series will tackle key questions: 

• How can conversational interfaces powered by generative AI make open data more accessible and inclusive for a broader audience?
• What does it mean for open data to be "AI-ready," and what standards, processes, and governance frameworks are needed to achieve this?
• How can we build and sustain data commons that balance openness, and trust, while fueling innovation for the public good?
• What barriers—technical, ethical, and institutional—must be overcome to fully realize the potential of the Fourth Wave?

This series goes beyond discussion to inspire action. Each 90-minute webinar episode will spotlight success stories, innovative projects, and collaborative frameworks, while also surfacing the challenges and opportunities ahead. 

Whether you’re a policymaker, technologist, or advocate, join us to shape the future of open data and its role in driving societal impact.

Opening Panel: “Why the Fourth Wave of Open Data Matters” 

In this introductory episode, we will speak with leading open data practitioners to discuss what a fourth wave approach means conceptually. We will provide an overview of what generative AI can do for open data, building on prior research by the Open Data Policy Lab and its partners.

Confirmed participants include:

• Stefaan Verhulst (The GovLab)
• Renata Ávila (Open Knowledge)
• Gretchen Deo (Microsoft)

Future Episodes:

In the coming weeks, we’ll hold additional webinar discussions, including: 

• "Making Open Data Conversational": How can AI make open data more accessible? How can we democratize data access through conversational interfaces?
• “Data Commons for Public Good”: How can we promote data-sharing ecosystems for generative AI? What case studies do we have of impactful data commons initiatives?
•  "Future-Proofing Open Data: Making Data AI-Ready": How can we define AI readiness for open data? What are the practical strategies for data curation, standardization, and quality?
• What Holds Us Back and The Way Forward: Challenges and Opportunities”: Where does the Fourth Wave concept go from here?

Stay tuned for future episodes in this series by signing up for our Data Stewards Newsletter!

Host or Publisher The Open Data Policy Lab