AGAP.AI QC 2050 started in September 2021 as a course requirement of a group of students under PA 152: Urban and Metropolitan Governance class at the University of the Philippines National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP NCPAG), in collaboration with the Quezon City Futures Lab. AGAP.AI came from the Filipino word agapay which means support or guide. It is an initiative project developed to increase appreciation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the field of public governance and to help the target city maximize AI’s potential in its administration of services and programs for its residents. Moreso, the project aims for the City’s realization of AI opportunities as its primary support in its achievement of goals and aspirations for the locality itself.

With the creation of AGAP.AI QC 2050, a group of three gathered insights from a number of key experts regarding the integration of AI and governance. The knowledge built from the conversations held is crucial in realizing the vision of the project and identifying possible priorities for its attainment. Other activities lined up for AGAP.AI QC 2050 are the brownbag discussions that will comprehensively tackle the project’s theme along with the relevant stakeholders that will be invited. There will also be activities, such as Public Leadership and Civic Startup Canvas, that will be of help in the acceleration and advancement of AGAP.AI QC 2050 Vision.

By 2050, AGAP.AI sees the local government of Quezon City fully deploying Artificial Intelligence (AI) on its interaction with the public, while ensuring that it is explainable, transparent, and ethical. In relation, QC 2050 ensures the following:

• The capabilities of the local agencies in the city are augmented through AI, thus allowing them to provide more effective and efficient services to the public.

• The city government puts policies in place in quest of accountability and transparency.

• Public-government interaction is smoother and more convenient.

All these can be achieved through the collaborative work of the government, school and university volunteers, and AI and machine learning engineers. This is while putting policies in place that ensure the system will not be abused and should deliver convenience and efficiency for all parties involved.