Ott Velsberg keynote speaker

Dr. Ott Velsberg is an internationally recognized expert in artificial intelligence, data, digital government, and public-sector transformation who helped shape Estonia into one of the world's most advanced AI-powered digital states.

For nearly eight years, Ott served as Government Chief Data Officer of Estonia, leading the country's national strategy and implementation across artificial intelligence, data governance, open data, data science, and citizen-centric digital services.

Today, he works with the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, helping governments internationally build the data, AI, and institutional foundations required for the next generation of digital states.

Ott's experience offers something increasingly valuable in the global AI conversation: he has been responsible not simply for discussing AI strategy, but for implementing AI at national scale.

During his tenure, Estonia moved from early experiments with artificial intelligence to more than 220 public-sector AI use cases, with an estimated annual impact approaching €60 million. The country's experience provides a real-world laboratory for understanding what happens when governments attempt to move AI beyond pilots and into everyday public services.

A central principle of Ott's work is that successful AI transformation depends on much more than algorithms. Organizations need high-quality data, interoperable infrastructure, governance, cybersecurity, leadership, skills, procurement models, institutional capability, and—above all—public trust.

He has been closely involved in pioneering initiatives including Bürokratt, Estonia's network of interoperable virtual assistants designed to make government services more accessible and citizen-centric, and Estonia's consent-based approach to data sharing, giving individuals greater control over how government-held information can be used.

Today, Ott is developing this experience into a broader vision for what he calls the Agentic State.

The Digital State made services available online. The Agentic State goes further: AI and autonomous systems increasingly help governments understand needs, coordinate processes, navigate complexity, and execute routine activities—while humans remain responsible for judgment, accountability, empathy, and strategic direction.

For Ott, this transformation is not primarily about putting chatbots on government websites. It requires redesigning institutions around data, interoperability, trustworthy AI, measurable outcomes, and human control.

His expertise extends across AI governance, digital public infrastructure, interoperability, data sovereignty, privacy, open data, proactive public services, and responsible AI implementation. He has contributed to international discussions through organizations and initiatives including the OECD, European institutions, and AI for Good.

Ott holds a PhD in Informatics from Umeå University, where his academic research examined information systems and the use of emerging technologies and data within the public sector.

As a keynote speaker, Ott combines technological expertise with the experience of someone who has actually led transformation inside government. He shares not only Estonia's successes, but also its failures, experiments, and lessons learned—giving leaders a practical understanding of what it takes to turn ambitious AI strategies into systems that work.