Foundation/AGM2025/Election to Board/Answers and manifestos/Q05 Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence
How do you see AI tools like chat bots, large language models, and computer vision fitting into the OpenStreetMap community? Should the board itself and/or its working groups use AI tools, and if so, how would you ensure they are used ethically and responsibly? Lastly, did you use AI assistance to craft your response to the candidate questions?
Roland Olbricht - Q05 Artificial Intelligence
Not at all.
The OpenStreetMap community and as part of it the Foundation have to solve problems and to define how good solutions to this look like. AI tools might be part of a well-defined solution for a relevant problem, but then the AI aspect is subordinated. Note also that the buzzword label AI goes to different systems than just machine learning.
It looks like automatic translation has proven useful in translation on the forum. But no-one there would see an autotranslated text as a definitive statement, and this is a sane way to see it. It is a good example of scope: the feature is automatic translation where the output is expected to be informative but not definitive, and the feature is not application of AI to a dicussion forum or whatever.
AI has failed for mapping many times. Long-time members will remember round buildings as a example, but the real danger comes from mixing sources of very different nature. In OpenStreetMap, mapped data can be accounted to real people and that enable quality assurance in many ways. AI tools produce data in a different way, and we do not understand how that data does or fails to assure quality (round buildings are an obvious example of failure, but compelling-and-wrong data is more dangerous).
Brazil Singh - Q05 Artificial Intelligence
I do not support the active use of AI tools by the board and its working groups at this time. Because there are risks of data transparency, and algorithm bias, which could compromise the quality of OSM data also because of data bias it may lead to misrepresentation in certain regions. Also, overuse of AI can cause threat to community engagement and as well as contribution.
Did I use AI assistance to craft responses
No way, because I nominated myself for the board, not AI. Also, if elected I will work for the board, not AI. So, all the answers should be answered by me, and that’s what I did. I didn’t use AI assistance to craft my response to the candidate questions.
Note: I use AI for my other non OSM related works for summarization and as my first language is not English, so to correct the spelling and formatting, I use AI, but not for these answers. And that’s why you may find grammatical errors and spelling mistakes in my responses.
Daniela Waltersdorfer - Q05 Artificial Intelligence
I see AI tools as an aid to humans. They are assistants and that's how we should incorporate them into our community. I am a fan of translation aids and tools available thanks to AI. I love that I can run and test text for grammar or to ensure my message makes sense. This is an incredibly helpful tool within the OSM community for members whose native language is not English (like me!), where we need to communicate in English on all OSM channels. No, I am not using AI assistance to answer my questions. But, I did run a spelling check on my manifesto.
Md Atikuzzaman Limon - Q05 Artificial Intelligence
AI tools, such as chatbots, large language models, and computer vision, can enhance OSM by automating tasks like tag validation and vandalism detection, improving data quality and user experience. However, their use must align with OSM’s open data ethos. The Board and working groups could use AI for tasks like analyzing community feedback, providing ethical guidelines, ensuring transparency, preventing bias, and respecting data privacy. I did not use AI assistance to craft these responses, relying instead on my understanding of OSM’s values. The Board should develop policies prioritizing open-source AI tools and community consultation to maintain trust.
OSM Foundation's board election 2025: official questions
Q01 Motivation and Objectives
| Q02 Conflict of Interest Management
| Q03 Transparency and Accountability
| Q04 Teamwork
| Q05 Artificial Intelligence
| Q06 Access to Imagery
| Q07 Software Governance
| Q08 Map Styles on OpenStreetMap.org
| Q09 State of the Map Conferences
| Q10 Intellectual Property
| Q11 OSMF Enthusiasm
All board candidates' manifestos
2025 OpenStreetMap Foundation's: Board election - Voting information and instructions - Annual General Meeting
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