Making the world more factual, one open dataset at a time.
We write to advocate for widening access to verifiable, open, and truthful data. In today’s era, marked by the prevalence of “alternative facts,” the need for reliable, easily accessible data has never been more critical. It is a fundamental component in preserving our cultural heritage and upholding the very fabric of our civilization.
In our current digital age, data is not just a resource but the cornerstone of informed decision-making, innovation, and transparency. By making data openly available and user-friendly via a structure such as Google’s Data Commons and the AI Alliance’s Open Trusted Data Initiative (OTDI) [1], we go beyond providing information towards empowering individuals, communities, and developers to engage with this information meaningfully. Open data fosters an environment where truth is sought, easily found, and shared, giving you the power to shape the narrative.
The importance of this initiative cannot be overstated. Across the globe, we witness the consequences of misinformation [2] and the speed at which it can spread [3].
By committing to open, well-structured data, we provide a reliable reference point for educators, researchers, and the general public, safeguarding our historical context, promoting an informed citizenry, and supporting democratic governance. The time to act is now, and your role in this is crucial.
Moreover, open, structured data would act as a catalyst for technological and social innovation. By providing developers with access to comprehensive, accurate datasets, we enable the creation of applications and tools that can disseminate factual information widely and effectively, enhancing access to information and supporting public discourse [4].
Therefore, we urge policymakers and government officials to prioritize the development of policies and technologies that support the availability of open data. Such initiatives should focus on releasing data and ensuring its accessibility and usability. Doing so can cultivate a more informed, engaged, and connected world.
Thank you for considering this vital issue. We greatly appreciate your support in this endeavor and look forward to the positive changes our combined efforts can bring about.
[1] https://datacommons.org/ and https://thealliance.ai/core-projects/open-trusted-data-initiative
[2] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-68918330
[3] https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01588-2[4] https://medium.com/datapace/16-innovative-applications-and-businesses-created-with-open-data-9927c953e9d2
Founder Jose M. Plehn, Ph.D.
Jose is the Founder and CEO of BrightQuery (“BQ”) and BQ AI: The Factual AI Company™. Jose has over ten years of academic experience working with U.S. statistical agencies, including the IRS, Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Small Business Administration (SBA). Prior to focusing on entrepreneurship, Jose was Faculty & Executive Director of the Fink Center at the Anderson School of Management at UCLA, Adjunct Accounting Professor at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley, and Executive Director of the Center for Financial Reporting & Management at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley. While at UC Berkeley, Jose founded the Berkeley Charter of Professional Accountancy (BCPA), which has become a leading accounting program. Prior to joining UC Berkeley, Jose was Assistant Professor of Accounting at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA and Assistant Professor of Economics at SUNY Buffalo. While at SUNY Buffalo, Jose helped found the Journal of Human Capital published by the University of Chicago Press. In 2011, Jose contributed IP to co-found Powerlytics, which provides aggregated anonymized IRS tax returns on all U.S. companies and households.
While at UC Berkeley, Jose received the 2015 Notable Contribution to the Accounting Literature Award, which is granted annually by the American Accounting Association (AAA) and the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA). Jose has published widely in leading academic journals, including The Accounting Review, Journal of Finance and Accounting, Small Business Economics, International Journal of Industrial Organization, Review of Economic Dynamics, Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, and Economics Letters, as well as research reports on behalf of the SBA. Jose’s academic research has been funded by the NSF and focuses on understanding the financial and economic characteristics of U.S. businesses and industries by leveraging regulatory filings and modeling the state of the economy.
Jose and BrightQuery are members of various groups related to data and AI. Jose is a member of the Steering Committee of the Open Trusted Data Initiative (OTDI) of the AI Alliance, and an active member of the Applications and Tools (FA3) and Open Foundation Models and Datasets (FA5) focus areas. Jose is also a member of the World of DaaS (Data as a Service), a trade group founded by Auren Hoffman, founder of Safegraph. Finally, Jose is a member of the Global Network of Data Officers and Statisticians of the United Nations Statistics Division.
Jose earned a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Chicago and B.S. degrees in Economics, Mathematics, and Management Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Jose is of Mexican origin, having spent his early childhood in Mexico City, and then growing up in Geneva, Switzerland, where his parents worked for the United Nations. Jose’s father was a senior diplomat with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) helping poorer, exporting countries negotiate with richer countries; and from his father, Jose developed his appreciation to help the world economy, reduce inequality, and protect the environment.
Member and Contributor to the AI Alliance,