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We are partnering with Apache on “Buying the Hype,” a journalistic investigation examining how Belgian and Flemish governments are investing in artificial intelligence. Governments across Europe have announced public bids to invest in AI, but the motivation is not always clear—or seems deliberately vague. In Belgium, both federal and Flemish governments have started integrating AI into public administration, justified in terms of “efficiency” and “innovation.”
The project will investigate Belgian and Flemish authorities’ spending on AI, who benefits from these contracts, and whether these investments serve the public interest or deepen dependency on large tech corporations. As Apache journalist Jan Walraven puts it:
“Apparently, nobody wants to miss the AI train. But do we know how much a ticket costs? And where this train is heading?”
The investigation addresses critical questions around digital sovereignty, transparency, and democratic oversight. It will examine whether government AI adoption happens transparently, and whether these applications genuinely help achieve stated goals. Using public records, procurement databases, and Freedom of Information requests, the project will collect information on AI-related government contracts and analyze selected cases in depth. It will carry out interviews with policymakers, officials, experts, and industry representatives.
Open Future will serve as the research partner, providing expertise in law, policy, and digital governance. This collaboration builds on our earlier work examining how European public funding shapes digital development. In our report “Putting money where your mouth is?”, we analyzed EU R&I funding for digital technologies and found that funding systems often prioritize technology-centric innovation over societal needs and lack the rigor to assess real potential and risks. This new investigation extends that analysis from EU-level funding to national and regional government spending, examining how Belgian and Flemish authorities invest in AI and whether these investments truly serve the public interest.
By combining policy research with investigative reporting, we aim to shed light on how governments purchase and use AI and support efforts to ensure public investment produces public value.
To learn more about the project, funded through a grant by the Journalism Science Alliance, visit the project page.
