Anticipatory AI Governance for Territorial Digital Inclusion: Action Research within the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa (Basque Country)

This article examines the implementation of Anticipatory Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance within the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa (Basque Country) through an action research project designed to inform a Digital Inclusion Strategy led by the General Directorate for Human Rights and Democratic Culture (Presidency). Situating the study within debates on anticipatory governance, the article addresses the following research question: how can city-regional governments operationalize anticipatory AI governance to advance territorial digital inclusion while safeguarding democratic accountability and human digital rights? The project moves beyond industrial and productivity-centered approaches to AI, focusing instead on its ethical, socio-economic, and territorial implications for citizens. The action research follows an eight-step methodological roadmap driven by Science for Policy approach (2024–2026): (i) alignment with the II Diversity Plan; (ii) the UIK International Summer School on Digital Inclusion & Generative AI (https://www.uik.eus/en/activity/digital-inclusion-generative-artificial-intelligence-gipuzkoa-socially-cohesive-digitally); (iii) collaboration with six NGOs (Aniztasunaren Sarea) to establish a Digital Inclusion & Generative AI Decalogue; (iv) dissemination via local media; (v) academic engagement through Discover Cities (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s44327-025-00116-9) and ICA2025 (https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11352770); (vi) fieldwork across seven governmental departments; (vii) engagement with 11 municipalities through ElkarBizi intermunicipal network; and (viii) international dissemination at AAG2026 (https://aag-meetings.secure-platform.com/aag2026/gallery/rounds/149/details/87672). Methodologically, the project integrates a triangulated design structured around Science for Policy through (i) Knowledge Exchange, (ii) Stakeholder Engagement, and (iii) Open-Science Dissemination. Findings indicate that embedding anticipatory AI governance within territorial inclusion strategies strengthens policy foresight, enhances ethical reflexivity in algorithmic decision-making, and consolidates public trust. The Gipuzkoa model offers a replicable framework for territorial AI governance grounded in inclusion, transparency, and democratic innovation.