The Nordic AI trust model

AI-driven services and automated decision-making can create uncertainty for citizens, particularly if mistakes occur and it is unclear why. The so-called “black box” challenge in AI risks undermining automation in public administration if decisions or outcomes cannot be explained to the people affected.

The Nordic AI Trust Model addresses this challenge by promoting transparency and accountability, giving citizens clear reasons to rely on — and have confidence in — public services.

A Model Built on Three Components

Competence

Public organisations build competence through governance, values, leadership, staff expertise, and many other factors. This competence forms the foundation for using AI responsibly as part of daily operations.

Self-assessment

The model provides a structured self-assessment to ensure that public organisations developing or using AI services comply with regulations, policies, and guidelines, while following a human-centric approach. The self-assessment also serves as a practical tool for analysis and improvement.

Transparency and accountability

The model encourages transparency in AI models and services. This includes sharing information about training data and algorithms, enabling independent review, and ensuring accountability if negative consequences occur — with correction and, where appropriate, compensation.

Public organisations may also register their use of the Nordic AI Trust Model and publish this information alongside AI-supported services. This makes it clear to citizens that the service is built responsibly, according to established values and good practices.