The handbook *Residents-in-the-loop: deciding together on AI in the city* was developed by Mike de Kreek and Tessa Steenkamp of the Civic Interaction Design research group at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. It brings together insights from the four-year research project Human Values for Smarter Cities and contains fifty practical working methods. These methods are designed to actively involve residents in the development of AI and other digital technologies in public spaces.

During the event, the researchers emphasised that residents should be consulted from the beginning of design and decision-making processes, rather than only after a technology has already been developed. Design researcher Tessa Steenkamp put it as follows: “The design of your technology must invite public involvement. Whether that is solicited or unsolicited.” Together with De Kreek, she introduced the Co-creation Cycle, a method from the handbook that demonstrates how residents can contribute ideas, co-design solutions and participate in decision-making throughout the entire development process. Practical examples illustrated how participation can take shape in concrete terms during technological innovations in the city.

The event also addressed the societal and governance challenges surrounding AI. Marc Steen of TNO discussed the role of virtue ethics. Panel discussions brought together Thijs Turèl (Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions), Eelco Thiellier (City of Amsterdam), Munish Ramlal (Amsterdam Metropolitan Region), Kars Alfrink (Delft University of Technology) and Jiska Engelbert (Erasmus University Rotterdam / Leiden University) to explore questions such as: when is transparency sufficient, how can sustained resident participation be organised, and how can public values be embedded in the development of technology?

The first copy of the handbook was presented to Ger Baron, Chief Technology Officer of the City of Amsterdam. The handbook is available as a free download.