Name in original language
Política Municipal de IA e Estratégia Municipal de IA
Initiative overview
Recife’s AI Initiative was created to address a clear challenge: public institutions were under growing pressure to deliver faster, more personalised, and more transparent services, while lacking structured guidance on how to use artificial intelligence responsibly. At the same time, the city recognised AI as an opportunity to improve decision-making, expand access to services, and strengthen innovation across government, academia, and the private sector. The initiative seeks to balance innovation with safeguards, ensuring that technology improves people’s lives without compromising rights or public trust.
The core objectives are threefold.
- First, to establish clear governance rules for the ethical and transparent use of AI in public services, including risk assessment, data protection, and human oversight.
- Second, to build institutional capacity by providing practical tools, shared infrastructure, and training for civil servants.
- Third, to stimulate an ecosystem approach, encouraging collaboration among public institutions, universities, start-ups, and civil society so that AI solutions can address real social and economic needs.
Implementation combines regulation and experimentation. The initiative is anchored in a municipal AI decree that defines principles and responsibilities, while also promoting pilot projects in areas such as digital public services, data-driven policy, and citizen support systems. It is supported by governance structures for data management, monitoring mechanisms for algorithmic risks, and partnerships with local and international organisations. Over time, these elements are being integrated into standard administrative processes, making AI governance part of routine public management rather than an isolated programme.
Since its inception, the initiative has evolved from isolated digital transformation efforts into a structured policy framework for responsible AI adoption. Future steps include expanding cross-sector partnerships, refining risk evaluation methods, and scaling successful pilots into permanent services. The long-term vision is to position Recife as a reference for practical, citizen-centred AI in government, while creating a model that can be adapted by other cities facing similar challenges.
