OECD Podcasts

As AI assistants, search engines and chatbots become intermediaries between users and information, official statistics face a new usability test: can authoritative public data be found, understood, sourced and used correctly by both humans and machines?

In the second episode of Statistics in the AI Era, OECD Chief Statistician Steve MacFeely speaks with Prem Ramaswami, Head of Google Data Commons, about the practical work needed to make trusted statistics understandable to people and legible to AI systems.

Prem argues that the challenge is not only to publish reliable data, but to make it easier to discover, connect and use. He explains why fragmented datasets impose a hidden “data tax” on analysts, why AI systems need data that is well sourced, auditable and reproducible, and why statistical organisations should start with machine-readable metadata.

The conversation also explores practical AI use cases across the statistical pipeline - including data collection, data cleaning, sharing and tailored policy outputs - as well as the need for public-private partnerships where technology companies help, and statistical institutions hold them to account.

Host:
Steve MacFeely | Chief Statistician, Statistics and Data Directorate, OECD
LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-macfeely-a1a710112/

Guest:
Prem Ramaswami | Head of Data Commons, Google
LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/premrama/

To learn more about this policy area: https://www.oecd.org/en/about/directorates/statistics-and-data-directorate.html

To learn more about the OECD, our global reach, and how to join us, go to www.oecd.org/about/

To keep up with latest at the OECD, visit www.oecd.org/

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AI is changing how citizens, journalists and policymakers find facts. Instead of going directly to statistical databases, more users are turning to AI assistants and chatbots to retrieve, interpret and reference official statistics.

In this first episode of Statistics in the AI Era, OECD Chief Statistician Steve MacFeely speaks with André Loranger, Chief Statistician of Canada and head of Statistics Canada, about what trusted public data means when AI becomes the interface between society and statistics.

They discuss metadata, evolving data quality frameworks, hallucination risks, responsible AI use within statistical organisations, and whether AI should be treated as a new kind of user.

The episode also explores Statistics Canada’s 2030 vision and the mix of skills statistical offices will need to protect quality, transparency and public trust in the AI age.

Host:
Steve MacFeely, OECD Chief Statistician (OECD Statistics and Data Directorate)
LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-macfeely-a1a710112/

Guest:
André Loranger, Chief Statistician of Canada (Statistics Canada)
LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/andre-loranger-12515731/

To learn more about this policy area: https://www.oecd.org/en/about/directorates/statistics-and-data-directorate.html

To learn more about the OECD, our global reach, and how to join us, go to www.oecd.org/about/

To keep up with latest at the OECD, visit www.oecd.org/

Get the latest OECD content delivered directly to your inbox! Subscribe to our newsletters: www.oecd.org/newsletters

Recorded live for the first time at the 7th Digital for SMEs (D4SME) Roundtable, this special episode is hosted by Shayne MacLachlan and Alix Philouze. While 61% of SMEs report using AI, three quarters remain beginners, highlighting a gap between adoption and confidence. Joined by entrepreneurs Regitze Vestergaard Jacobsen, Robyn Baker and Leonardo Baggiani, the discussion explores how small businesses are experimenting with AI, managing cyber risks, navigating costs and skills gaps, and protecting jobs, identity and the human touch. A candid, on the ground conversation to explore what matters most to entrepreneurs facing these challenges today.

Hosts:
Shayne MacLachlan, Public Affairs and Communications Manager at the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities.

Alix Philouze is a communications co-ordinator at the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities, where she works with both the SME and Entrepreneurship division and the Cities, Urban Policies and Sustainable Development division. She holds a degree in European Studies from Trinity College Dublin.

Guests:

Robyn Baker | https://www.linkedin.com/in/robyn-baker-257924396/
Robyn Baker is an entrepreneur based in The Netherlands who loves supporting small businesses succeed on competitive eCommerce marketplaces. Through her business Unicorn Copy & Strategy, she provides the written and photo content needed to launch products online with a focus on AI optimization to maximize product visibility and brand growth.

Leonardo Baggiani | https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonardo-baggiani-488216116/
A former Chef, Leonardo Baggiani transitioned to management to ensure business resilience. Leveraging an Agronomy degree and Food Quality Master, he directs cultural-site cafés through public-sector collaborations. His human-scale approach prioritizes staff well-being, promoting the vital social essence of traditional neighborhood hubs also in tourist areas.

Regitze Vestergaard Jacobsen | https://www.linkedin.com/in/regitze-vestergaard-jacobsen-12025b97/
Regitze Vestergaard Jacobsen is a Sales and Marketing Manager in the Danish hospitality sector at Hotel Gl. Skovridergaard and Conference Center, where she works hands-on with AI to turn digital potential into real business value. She focuses on saving time, personalising guest experiences, and improving visibility. Her core belief is clear: technology should support people, not replace them, and be simple enough for SMEs to actually use.

To know more about the D4SME network https://www.oecd.org/en/networks/oecd-digital-for-smes-global-initiative.html

For the latest SMEs policy https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/empowering-smes-in-the-age-of-ai_bf5a9816-en.html

To learn more about the OECD, our global reach, and how to join us, go to www.oecd.org/about/

To keep up with latest at the OECD, visit www.oecd.org/
Get the latest OECD content delivered directly to your inbox! Subscribe to our newsletters: www.oecd.org/newsletters

#oecdpodcast #oecd #ocde #SMEs #AI #business #digital

Over the 10 years, global tourism has been reshaped by successive crises, from the collapse of travel during COVID-19, the Russia-Ukraine war, and the current conflict in the Gulf and the rise of petrol prices. In this episode, Shayne MacLachlan from the OECD, speaks with Sergio Guerreiro, Chair of the OECD Tourism Committee, about how governments have responded to uncertainty and what resilience means in practice. Together, they explore how tourism policy is evolving to balance growth with sustainability, community impact and long-term stability in an increasingly unpredictable world.

Host: Shayne MacLachlan, Public Affairs and Communications Manager at the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities
Guest : Sergio Guerreiro / https://www.linkedin.com/in/sergioguerreiro74?originalSubdomain=pt

To learn more about policy area: https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/tourism.html

To read more on tourism policy in Portugal by Serio Guerreiro: https://oecdcogito.blog/2026/01/07/tourism-at-a-turning-point-the-next-generation-of-policy-making/

To learn more about the OECD, our global reach, and how to join us, go to www.oecd.org/about/
To keep up with latest at the OECD, visit www.oecd.org/
Get the latest OECD content delivered directly to your inbox! Subscribe to our newsletters: www.oecd.org/newsletters

Data is the lifeblood of the modern economy - powering decision-making, daily life, and the AI revolution. But governing data is full of trade-offs: openness and trust vs privacy and regulation; cross-border sharing vs sovereignty; and timeliness vs quality.

In this episode of Behind the Numbers, host Ashley Ward is joined by OECD Chief Statistician Steve MacFeely to explore why data governance has become a core policy challenge - and what it means for the future of official statistics and AI.

We follow Steve’s journey from Cork to Geneva to Paris; unpack his thoughts on metadata; and find out where he thinks the international statistical community should double down – or back off – over the coming decade.

Host: Ashley Ward, Director’s Office Advisor and Communications Manager (OECD Statistics and Data Directorate)
Guest: Steve MacFeely, OECD Chief Statistician (OECD Statistics and Data Directorate)

To learn more about the OECD, our global reach, and how to join us, go to www.oecd.org/en/about.html
To keep up with latest at the OECD, visit www.oecd.org/
Get the latest OECD content delivered directly to your inbox! Subscribe to our newsletters: www.oecd.org/en/about/newsletters.html