In the latest episode of the Eurostat podcast Stats in a Wrap, which is the second part in a special series on innovation, we explore how using artificial intelligence (AI) and open-source software in statistics can increase access to information.

Our host Jonathan Elliot is once again joined by Albrecht Wirthmann, head of Eurostat’s unit responsible for methodology and innovation, Frankie Kay from the Central Statistics Office of Ireland and Nikolaos Roubanis, the head of Eurostat’s transport unit. This time, we also have Eva Charlotte Berner talking about her work as head of Team AI at Statistics Norway.

In this episode, our guests discuss how open-source technologies, algorithms and chatbots can be used in statistics to help users find the data and information they need. But the use of new technologies also brings concerns: from privacy and data security issues to biases and algorithm preferences towards the English language over minority languages. 

Subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or via our RSS feed. You can also listen to the monthly episodes on the Eurostat website, the European Commission Audiovisual Service and our YouTube channel. 

Stats in a Wrap aims to look at the world through the lens of statistics, picking the most delicious morsels and striking flavours to provide insights into the unexpected, quirky and downright peculiar perspectives that only numbers can reveal.

The opinions expressed in the podcasts reflect solely the point of view of the speakers and can in no way be taken to reflect the position of Eurostat, the European Commission, or the European Union.