ACT Days 2026, dedicated to the topic “Artificial Intelligence and Digital Security in Civil Society: From Opportunities to Responsible Use”, were held on 22 and 23 September in Pančevo, bringing together representatives of civil society organizations from Serbia.
Over the course of two days, participants discussed the opportunities that artificial intelligence brings to civil society organizations, as well as the ethical, security and societal challenges accompanying its increasingly widespread use.
ACT Days were opened by Philipp Beutler, Head of the Cooperation Sector at the Embassy of Switzerland, Gorana Radovanović, ACT Project Team Leader and Helvetas Serbia Office Manager, and Maja Stojanović, Executive Director of Civic Initiatives.
The topic was introduced by Vanja Subotić, a postdoctoral researcher and PhD in philosophy specializing in the philosophy of artificial intelligence, language and cognition, who spoke about understanding artificial intelligence, its capabilities and limitations, as well as the questions its use raises for society.
From Opportunities to Responsible Use
The ACT Days programme covered topics such as ethics and data protection, the use of AI tools in the everyday work of organizations, the automation of communication, planning and reporting, as well as digital security and new forms of digital risks faced by civil society.
Particular emphasis was placed on the need for organizations not only to be users of new technologies, but also active participants in discussions about their responsible use.
One of the key questions of this year’s ACT Days was:
Not only what can AI do for civil society, but also what can civil society do with AI?
From Knowledge to Practice – Six Interactive Workshops
Following the introductory discussions on the opportunities and challenges brought by artificial intelligence and digital security, participants had the opportunity to immediately apply the knowledge they had gained in practice.
Through six interactive workshops, organized in smaller groups, they explored concrete ways of using AI tools in the everyday work of civil society organizations – from communication, planning and content creation to data protection and improving digital security. The workshops were led by lecturers and experts from the SHARE Foundation, ICT Hub, iRevolucija, Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCSP), BIRN Serbia and Zarišić Consulting, who shared their knowledge, experience and practical tools from their respective fields with the participants.
Participants had the opportunity to ask questions, experiment with new solutions and jointly seek answers to the challenges their organizations face every day.
That is why laptops were an essential part of the equipment, because this year’s ACT Days were not only about discussing new technologies, but also about learning through their practical application.
AI as a Tool, but Also a Responsibility
ACT Days 2026 opened up space for discussion on how civil society organizations can harness the potential of new technologies while at the same time preserving the principles of responsibility, security, transparency and the protection of human rights.
The exchange of knowledge and experiences over the two days demonstrated how important it is for civil society to actively participate in shaping the way artificial intelligence is used – not only as a user of technology, but also as an actor that raises questions about its impact on society.
