The 20th Conference of the International Association for Official Statistics (IAOS) has opened today in Vilnius, bringing together experts in statistics, data science, public administration, and academia from around the world. The event, taking place on 12–14 May, discusses how the data revolution, artificial intelligence, and new data sources are transforming official statistical systems and their role in society.
The Conference is organized by the State Data Agency (Statistics Lithuania) in cooperation with the International Association for Official Statistics (IAOS). The theme of this year’s Conference is “Navigating the Data Revolution: Innovations and Impact in Modern Statistics”.
On the first day of the Conference, participants gathered for the opening ceremony, where the importance of official statistics in modern society, the role of reliable data in decision-making, and the significance of international cooperation were emphasized.
“This Conference is an important platform for international dialogue, where discussions focus on how official statistics must adapt to a rapidly changing world. Today, as the volume of data is growing extremely fast and opportunities for its use are expanding, it is especially important to ensure the reliability of statistics, transparency, and public trust”, noted Dr Jūratė Petrauskienė, Director General of the State Data Agency.
The Conference program placed strong emphasis on the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning in official statistics. During the sessions, participants discussed opportunities to use alternative data sources, big data, and artificial intelligence to produce statistical indicators more efficiently, improve data quality, and modernize statistical production processes.
Issues related to data ethics, public trust, and communication were also examined. Discussions highlighted that rapid technological development requires not only innovation but also a responsible approach to data use, transparency, and the reliability of statistics.
On the first day, sessions focused on innovations in agricultural statistics, the use of population and administrative register data, the development of data systems, and the advancement of international statistical standards. Conference participants also discussed data‑sharing ecosystems between businesses and public sector institutions, quality assurance in statistics, and new methods in regional and urban statistics.
During the event, practical examples from various countries were presented: ranging from automated data collection solutions and machine learning models to innovative methods for population counting and migration estimation.
The poster presentation session also attracted significant interest, during which researchers and statistical experts presented their latest projects in the fields of artificial intelligence, remote sensing, data ethics, and the modernization of official statistics.
The Conference in Vilnius will continue over the coming days, with further discussions planned on the future of official statistics, data innovations, and the importance of reliable information in a rapidly changing world.
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