AI adoption in the public sector

Curated on Posted on by Stefaan Verhulst

Two studies from the Joint Research Centre: “…delve into the factors that influence the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in public sector organisations.

A first report analyses a survey conducted among 574 public managers across seven EU countries, identifying what are currently the main drivers of AI adoption and providing 3 key recommendations to practitioners. 

Strong expertise and various organisational factors emerge as key contributors for AI adoptions, and a second study sheds light on the essential competences and governance practices required for the effective adoption and usage of AI in the public sector across Europe…

The study finds that AI adoption is no longer a promise for public administration, but a reality, particularly in service delivery and internal operations and to a lesser extent in policy decision-making. It also highlights the importance of organisational factors such as leadership support, innovative culture, clear AI strategy, and in-house expertise in fostering AI adoption. Anticipated citizen needs are also identified as a key external factor driving AI adoption. 

Based on these findings, the report offers three policy recommendations. First, it suggests paying attention to AI and digitalisation in leadership programmes, organisational development and strategy building. Second, it recommends broadening in-house expertise on AI, which should include not only technical expertise, but also expertise on ethics, governance, and law. Third, the report advises monitoring (for instance through focus groups and surveys) and exchanging on citizen needs and levels of readiness for digital improvements in government service delivery…(More)”.

AI Investment Potential Index: Mapping Global Opportunities for Sustainable Development

Curated on Posted on by Stefaan Verhulst

Paper by AFD: “…examines the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) investment to drive sustainable development across diverse national contexts. By evaluating critical factors, including AI readiness, social inclusion, human capital, and macroeconomic conditions, we construct a nuanced and comprehensive analysis of the global AI landscape. Employing advanced statistical techniques and machine learning algorithms, we identify nations with significant untapped potential for AI investment.
We introduce the AI Investment Potential Index (AIIPI), a novel instrument designed to guide financial institutions, development banks, and governments in making informed, strategic AI investment decisions. The AIIPI synthesizes metrics of AI readiness with socio-economic indicators to identify and highlight opportunities for fostering inclusive and sustainable growth. The methodological novelty lies in the weight selection process, which combines statistical modeling and also an entropy-based weighting approach. Furthermore, we provide detailed policy implications to support stakeholders in making targeted investments aimed at reducing disparities and advancing equitable technological development…(More)”.

Access to data for research: lessons for the National Data Library from the front lines of AI innovation.

Curated on Posted on by Stefaan Verhulst

Report by the Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy and the Bennett Institute for Public Policy: “…a series of case studies on access to data for research. These case studies illustrate the barriers that researchers are grappling with, and suggest how a new wave of policy development could help address these.

Each show innovative uses of data for research in areas that are critically important to science and society, including:

The projects highlight crucial design considerations for the UK’s National Data Library and the need for a digital infrastructure that connects data, researchers, and resources that enable data use. By centring the experiences of researchers on the front-line of AI innovation, this report hopes to bring some of those barriers into focus and inform continued conversations in this area…(More)”.

NegotiateAI 

Curated on Posted on by Stefaan Verhulst

About: “The NegotiateAI app is designed to streamline access to critical information on the UN Plastic Treaty Negotiations to develop a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including the marine environment. It offers a comprehensive, centralized database of documents submitted by member countries available here, along with an extensive collection of supporting resources, including reports, research papers, and policy briefs. You can find more information about the NegotiateAI project on our website…The Interactive Treaty Assistant simplifies the search and analysis of documents by INC members, enabling negotiators and other interested parties to quickly pinpoint crucial information. With an intuitive interface, The Interactive Treaty Assistant supports treaty-specific queries and provides direct links to relevant documents for deeper research…(More)”.

Building a Responsible Humanitarian Approach: The ICRC’s policy on Artificial Intelligence

Curated on Posted on by Stefaan Verhulst

Policy by the ICRC: “…is anchored in a purely humanitarian approach driven by our mandate and Fundamental Principles. It is meant to help ICRC staff learn about AI and safely explore its humanitarian potential.

This policy is the result of a collaborative and multidisciplinary approach that leveraged the ICRC’s humanitarian and operational expertise, existing international AI standards, and the guidance and feedback of external experts.

Given the constantly evolving nature of AI, this document cannot possibly address all the questions and challenges that will arise in the future, but we hope that it provides a solid basis and framework to ensure we take a responsible and human-centred approach when using AI in support of our mission, in line with our 2024–2027 Institutional Strategy…(More)”.

Building a Policy Compass: Navigating Future Migration with Anticipatory Methods

Curated on Posted on by Stefaan Verhulst

Report by Sara Marcucci and Stefaan Verhulst: “Migration is a complex, dynamic issue, shaped by interconnected drivers like climate change, political shifts, and economic instability. Traditional migration policies often fall short, reacting to events after they unfold. In a rapidly changing world, anticipating migration trends is essential for developing responsive, proactive, and informed policies that address emerging challenges before they escalate. “Building a Policy Compass: Navigating Future Migration with Anticipatory Methods” introduces a suite of methods that aim to shift migration policy toward evidence-based, forward-looking decisions. This report, published for the Big Data for Migration Alliance, provides an overview of the challenges and criteria to consider when selecting and using anticipatory methods for migration policy.

To guide policymakers, the report organizes these methods into a taxonomy based on three categories:

  • Experience-Based Methods: These capture lived experiences through approaches like narrative interviews and participatory action research. They ground migration policy in the perspectives of those directly affected by it.
  • Expertise-Based Methods: Using specialized knowledge from migration experts, methods such as expert panels or Delphi processes can inform nuanced policy decisions.
  • Exploration-Based Methods: These methods, including scenario planning and wildcards analysis, encourage creative, out-of-the-box thinking for addressing unexpected migration challenges.

The report emphasizes that not every method is suited to all migration contexts and offers eight criteria to guide method selection…(More)”.

Review of relevance of the OECD Recommendation on ICTs and the Environment

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OECD Policy Report: “The OECD Recommendation on Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and the Environment was adopted in 2010 and recognised the link between digital technologies and environmental sustainability. Today, advances in digital technologies underscore their growing role in achieving climate resilience. At the same time, digital technologies and their underlying infrastructure have an environmental footprint that must be managed. This report takes stock of technology and policy developments since the adoption of the Recommendation and provides a gap analysis and assessment of its relevance, concluding that the Recommendation remains relevant and identifying areas for revision…(More)”.

Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work

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Report by the National Academies: “AI technology is at an inflection point: a surge of technological progress has driven the rapid development and adoption of generative AI systems, such as ChatGPT, which are capable of generating text, images, or other content based on user requests.

This technical progress is likely to continue in coming years, with the potential to complement or replace human labor in certain tasks and reshape job markets. However, it is difficult to predict exactly which new AI capabilities might emerge, and when these advances might occur.

This National Academies’ report evaluates recent advances in AI technology and their implications for economic productivity, job stability, and income inequality, identifying research opportunities and data needs to equip workers and policymakers to flexibly respond to AI developments…(More)”

OECD Digital Economy Outlook 2024

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OECD Report: “The most recent phase of digital transformation is marked by rapid technological changes, creating both opportunities and risks for the economy and society. The Volume 2 of the OECD Digital Economy Outlook 2024 explores emerging priorities, policies and governance practices across countries. It also examines trends in the foundations that enable digital transformation, drive digital innovation and foster trust in the digital age. The volume concludes with a statistical annex…

In 2023, digital government, connectivity and skills topped the list of digital policy priorities. Increasingly developed at a high level of government, national digital strategies play a critical role in co-ordinating these efforts. Nearly half of the 38 countries surveyed develop these strategies through dedicated digital ministries, up from just under a quarter in 2016. Among 1 200 policy initiatives tracked across the OECD, one-third aim to boost digital technology adoption, social prosperity, and innovation. AI and 5G are the most often-cited technologies…(More)”

Launching the Data-Powered Positive Deviance Course

Curated on Posted on by Stefaan Verhulst

Blog by Robin Nowok: “Data-Powered Positive Deviance (DPPD) is a new method that combines the principles of Positive Deviance with the power of digital data and advanced analytics. Positive Deviance is based on the observation that in every community or organization, some individuals achieve significantly better outcomes than their peers, despite having similar challenges and resources. These individuals or groups are referred to as positive deviants.

The DPPD method follows the same logic as the Positive Deviance approach but leverages existing, non-traditional data sources, either instead of or in conjunction with traditional data sources. This allows for the identification of positive deviants on larger geographic and temporal scales. Once identified, we can then uncover the behaviors that lead to their success, enabling others to adopt these practices.

In a world where top-down solutions often fall short, DPPD offers a fresh perspective. It focuses on finding what’s already working within communities, rather than imposing external solutions. This can lead to more sustainable, culturally appropriate, and effective interventions.

Our online course is designed to get you started on your DPPD journey. Through five modules, you’ll gain both theoretical knowledge and practical skills to apply DPPD in your own work…(More)”.