Hello, World: Artificial Intelligence and its Use in the Public Sector by Jamie Berryhill, Kévin Kok Heang, Rob Clogher, Keegan McBride published by OECD (2019).
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is an area of research and technology application that can have a significant impact on public policies and services in many ways. In just a few years, it is expected that the potential will exist to free up nearly one-third of public servants’ time, allowing them to shift from mundane tasks to high-value work. Governments can also use AI to design better policies and make better decisions, improve communication and engagement with citizens and residents, and improve the speed and quality of public services. While the potential benefits of AI are significant, attaining them is not an easy task. Government use of AI trails that of the private sector; the field is complex and has a steep learning curve; and the purpose of, and context within, government are unique and present a number of challenges.
The OECD Observatory of Public Sector Innovation (OPSI) (https://oecd-opsi.org) has prepared this working paper, Hello, World: Artificial Intelligence and its Use in the Public Sector, to help government officials understand AI and navigate considerations specific to the public sector. “Hello, World!” is traditionally the very first computer program written by someone learning how to code, and this primer is intended to enable public officials to take their first steps in exploring AI. It builds on the work of the OECD’s Going Digital project, a forthcoming OECD AI Policy Observatory (http://oecd.ai), and the Working Party of Senior Digital Government Officials (E Leaders). It is the second in a series of overviews on topics of interest for the public sector innovation community, following Blockchains Unchained, published in June 2018.
At a time of increasing complexity, uncertainty and shifting demands, governments and public servants need to understand, test and embed new ways of doing things. OPSI helps them by shining a light on governments’ efforts to create more efficient, effective and responsive policies and services and by accompanying them in their exploration and implementation of innovative approaches. Government can use—and in many cases is already using—AI to innovate. For instance, a number of global leaders already have strategies to build AI capacity as a national priority. AI can be used to make existing processes more efficient and accurate. It can be used to consume and analyse unstructured information, such as tweets, to help governments gain insights into citizen opinions. Finally, in looking to the future, it will be important to consider and prepare for the implications of AI on society, work, and human purpose.
