Power of AI in Government – How Governments Globally Are Gearing to Embrace Artificial Intelligence

Can “smart” technology make government operations more efficient and effective? Well, the short answer is ‘Yes,’ and the transformation is already underway. According to the New York Times, AI is a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which prominently features AI in diversifying its petroleum-reliant economy.

The kingdom directs substantial investments toward advanced smart city initiatives and innovative AI-driven healthcare innovations, reflecting a strategic shift towards technological advancement and economic resilience.

Additionally, a Deloitte report highlights that 79% of business leaders surveyed (from a group of 2,620 respondents across various sectors) have implemented AI solutions into organizational processes. This indicates a well-established AI ecosystem that provides governments with a variety of tools and technologies to address their unique challenges.

AI is already playing a significant role in government functions and is expected to profoundly reshape public-sector services in the coming years— enhancing various aspects of government operations. Cognitive applications are streamlining tasks such as reducing backlogs, cutting costs, predicting fraudulent transactions, and identifying criminal suspects that are challenging for humans.

Unsurprisingly, Generative AI in government is poised to revolutionize the public sector by automating processes and enhancing service delivery. However, governmental agencies must carefully determine where and how to deploy these new technologies for maximum impact.

In this article, we will explore specific applications and examples of how AI is being utilized at both municipal and federal levels, highlighting its vast potential to transform government operations in the digital age. We will also discuss the major roadblocks hampering the smooth adoption of AI in government and the strategies to overcome those barriers.

AI in Government: An Overview of Global Facts and Figures

Government agencies are increasingly embracing AI technologies to address various problems and save costs in the public sector. The primary reason for using artificial intelligence in government policies and procedures is its potential to free up millions of labor hours. A Deloitte survey estimates that automating tasks performed by government workers can save approximately 96.7 million to 1.2 billion labor hours, translating to annual savings of around $3.3 billion to $41.1 billion. This hyper-automation of critical processes can allow government workers to focus on more important tasks and provide better services to the public faster, enhancing the speed, accuracy, and quality of public service delivery.

Let’s shed some light on the transformative adoption of AI and Generative AI in government on a global scale:

• Support for AI Projects: 70% of business leaders endorse AI-driven government initiatives.
• Digital Maturity: 80% of government agencies are in the initial or developing stages of achieving digital maturity.
• Hyper-Automation Initiatives: 75% of governments will have launched or be in the process of launching at least three enterprise-wide hyper-automation projects by the end of 2024.
• Government AI Investments: 60% of government investments in AI and data analytics aim to directly influence real-time operational decisions and outcomes.
• AI Strategy Implementation: A survey on governments’ AI strategies, conducted among 89 government bodies, including major departments and arm’s length bodies with annual operational expenditures over $110 million, achieved a high response rate of 98% (87 bodies participated).

• AI Funding Initiatives: The US, UK, China, and Canadian governments invest billions to advance AI innovation in the public sector, demonstrating their steadfast commitment to leveraging AI for public sector innovation.
• Saudi Arabia’s AI Investment: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has made a substantial financial commitment, allocating a staggering $100 billion for AI and technology investments. These initiatives position the kingdom at the center of an intensifying competition between the US and China for global technological influence.
• AI Engineering Initiative: Saudi Arabia’s National Program for IT  Development has launched an initiative to train 1,000 engineers in AI and machine learning. The initiative aims to strengthen the country’s technological capabilities and global competitiveness in the AI sector.
• Government AI Programs: A report by the National Audit Office (NAO) UK in March 2024 revealed that 70% of surveyed government bodies are either piloting or planning to use AI in government initiatives. These applications range from supporting decision-making processes to improving internal operations.
• UAE’s 2031 AI Vision: The UAE leads the charge of the AI drive with its 2017 national AI plan to become a global AI hub by 2031. The strategy includes the deployment of AI in education, transportation, healthcare, and beyond.

Governments worldwide are leveraging AI across verticals for predictive analytics, automated decision-making, streamlined processes, enhanced citizen engagement, reinforced security, and more. By adopting these innovative approaches, governments can enhance efficiency, transparency, and service delivery, benefiting citizens and stakeholders alike.

Witnessing these tech advancements, we can say that governments in various regions, including the Middle East, have a broad opportunity to leverage the potential of artificial intelligence. Unsurprisingly, the Middle East is fast becoming the new Silicon Valley for AI, drawing global investors from every domain.

Now that we know how AI and Generative AI are transforming the government sector, let’s explore various AI use cases in government to know how authorities can leverage these cutting-edge technologies to improve public sector services.

AI in Government: Transformative Use Cases & Real World Examples

Ever wondered, “How is AI used in government?” Well, there are countless ways AI applications help transform governments’ operations and initiatives. From simplifying bureaucratic procedures to enhancing public safety, AI technologies enable government entities to fulfill their missions more effectively and cost-efficiently. AI use cases in government are expanding rapidly, leading to more efficient, transparent, and responsive services. Here are some of the most significant uses of AI in government:

AI-Powered Data Analytics

The government sector deals with vast troves of data on a daily basis. Manual entry and analysis of this data can consume a lot of time and resources, causing delays in government workflows. By leveraging AI-powered data analytics tools, governments can derive valuable insights and make evidence-based decisions. This capability empowers government agencies to develop effective policies, optimize resource allocation, deliver quick services to citizens, and respond swiftly to emerging challenges.

Example: The Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission digitized 40,000 campaign finance disclosure forms using OCR data entry tools. These tools can efficiently process large document dumps in minutes, significantly enhancing operational efficiency and data accessibility.

AI-Driven Chatbots and Virtual Assistants

In modern government operations, AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants reshape public interactions by automating routine inquiries and freeing human resources for more complex tasks.

Example: Dubai’s government utilizes RAMMAS, a virtual AI assistant that supports citizens with repetitive tasks such as bill payments, application tracking, and job applications, enhancing accessibility to government services efficiently.

Similarly, the US Army utilizes SGT STAR, a virtual assistant deployed on its recruitment website, which has successfully handled over 10 million public queries.

Also, the Department of Homeland Security in the US employs EMMA, an AI-driven virtual assistant focused on immigration services. EMMA assists around one million applicants monthly by offering guidance on services and directing them to relevant resources within the department.

Cyber Attack Prevention

Government agencies hold an immense volume of public and defense data, making them prime targets for cyber-attacks that jeopardize national security and erode public trust. As cyberattacks become more prevalent in today’s digital age, legacy systems fall short of preventing malicious activities. The use of AI in government workflows empowers agencies to prevent and mitigate cyber threats proactively.

The use of AI in cybersecurity enables government authorities to continuously monitor network activities for unusual patterns and reinforce data vulnerabilities. It also enhances intrusion detection accuracy, simulates cyber attacks to assess resilience, and automates system patching for robust defenses against cyber threats.

Example: Innovative AI tools like Microsoft’s Cyber Signals actively monitor over 140 threat groups and 40 nation-state actors in 20 countries, facilitating intelligence sharing among government agencies through identifying and tagging malicious entities.

Traffic Flow Management

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports an annual death toll of 1.19 million from road crashes. Integrating AI into transportation infrastructure offers governments a powerful tool to mitigate these risks. Technologies such as computer vision, object detection, drone tracking, and AI-driven surveillance systems in traffic management enable authorities to analyze crash data thoroughly. By identifying high-risk areas, governments can proactively implement targeted safety measures to prevent accidents.

Example: The US Department of Energy has developed an AI tool called Transportation State Estimation Capability (TranSEC). This tool uses machine learning to analyze traffic flow and deliver real-time street-level estimations of vehicle movements.

AI in Disaster Management

The ability to respond swiftly is indispensable during natural calamities or at the time of emergencies. AI in disaster management significantly enhances the ability of authorities to respond quickly and efficiently. AI-driven technologies like image analysis and remote sensing allow governments to assess disaster impacts, prioritize rescue operations, and provide aid during post-disaster recovery.

Additionally, real-time data analysis enables governments to track and predict disaster patterns, optimize resource coordination, and implement early warning systems. In short, AI empowers governments to improve their disaster preparedness and response capabilities, ensuring more effective management during crises.

Example: The Artificial Intelligence for Digital Response (AIDR) technology, developed by the Qatar Computing Research Institute, played a crucial role during Hurricane Harvey’s catastrophic destruction. This AI system collected and categorized social media data in real-time, enabling optimized resource deployment to the hardest-hit areas in Texas and more efficient coordination of rescue and relief efforts.

Healthcare Advancements

AI in medical science has achieved breakthroughs, from early disease detection and prevention to enhanced clinical decision support. AI enables real-time tracking of patients’ vital health metrics, including weight, height, blood glucose, stress levels, and heart rate. This data is integrated into AI-driven medical systems, alerting healthcare providers to potential risks promptly. Governments can leverage AI-driven healthcare systems to deliver more efficient and responsive medical services to patients.

Example: The NHS established the National COVID-19 Chest Imaging Database, a comprehensive repository of chest X-rays, CT scans, and MRI images. This database supports the testing and development of AI technologies to combat COVID-19 and other health conditions.

Predictive Policing for Public Safety

AI-powered predictive policing models are revolutionizing public safety strategies by leveraging historical crime data to pinpoint potential crime hotspots. AI in government policies empowers agencies and policymakers to allocate resources proactively and develop targeted interventions, effectively mitigating crime risks and enhancing public safety.

Related Article: A Comprehensive Guide on Using Predictive Analytics for Mobile Apps

Example: Belgian authorities utilized an AI crowdsourcing tool developed by CitizenLab during climate change protests in 2019. This tool enabled the government to gather and analyze public opinions, leading to the identification of 15 priority climate action policies based on citizen input.

Real Estate Infrastructure Monitoring

Governments globally grapple with the complexities of monitoring real estate infrastructure, as manual inspection often fails to detect property defects or developments effectively. To address these challenges, governments increasingly turn to AI to automate property monitoring and administration.

Example: NearMap, an Australian company, has developed an AI solution that employs aerial imagery to identify and segment land parcels. Likewise, the US government and insurance firms utilize AI tools to detect changes in infrastructure and property.

Like the US and Australia, you, too, can leverage the power of innovative AI trends to combat issues like tax evasion and unauthorized property alterations through enhanced infrastructure monitoring.

Related Article: Exploring AI in Real Estate  – 10 Use Cases and Examples

AI-Assisted Administrative Process

Government administrative processes are often time-consuming and resource-intensive, but government AI solutions can streamline and automate these tasks, enhancing operational efficiency and saving time. AI systems can manage documents, optimize workflows, and allocate resources effectively. Automating routine administrative tasks frees up human resources for higher-level decision-making and policy implementation. This not only enhances productivity and reduces paperwork but also ensures smoother and more efficient operations within government organizations.

Example: The US General Services Administration (GSA) leverages AI technologies to streamline its procurement process. It helps manage and analyze contracts, automating routine tasks such as contract reviews and compliance checks, allowing GSA staff to focus on more strategic tasks.

Artificial Intelligence for Electoral Management

Artificial intelligence in the government sector transforms electoral management by enhancing election processes’ efficiency, accuracy, and transparency. Political campaigns increasingly leverage AI for a wide range of activities, from targeted advertising to election forecasting and beyond.

In essence, AI-powered tools can streamline voter registration, detect and prevent electoral fraud, and optimize the logistics of election-day operations. By integrating AI into electoral management, governments can ensure smoother and more reliable elections, strengthening democratic processes. Also, AI-powered eVoting systems have revolutionized citizen engagement in the election process.

Example: The Indian Election Commission utilized AI to improve voter roll accuracy. The AI system cross-referenced voter data with other databases to identify and remove duplicate and outdated entries. This technology ensured a more accurate voter list and reduced the potential for voter fraud.

You may like reading: What are the benefits of blockchain for government services?

Artificial Intelligence in Government: Risks and Resolutions

While AI promises to enhance efficiency, transparency, and service delivery, it also poses several challenges that hinder the successful adoption of AI for governments. Here are some of the most common challenges of AI adoption in government with their strategic solutions:

Lack of AI Expertise

Risk: Government agencies face a scarcity of high-quality AI resources. Government workers often lack the AI and data science skills to handle the vast troves of citizen data and build government AI applications that benefit the public.

Resolution: Governments can mitigate this challenge by investing in training programs that equip employees with essential data science and AI skills. Collaborations with a trusted AI development company can also help build state-of-the-art government AI solutions for diverse public sector needs.

Bias and Fairness

Risk: AI bias has long been a challenge for government bodies and businesses alike. AI systems may perpetuate biases in training data, potentially leading to discriminatory outcomes in government decision-making processes.

Resolution: Implementing rigorous bias detection and mitigation techniques, such as diverse dataset curation and algorithmic auditing, ensures fair and equitable AI applications in government operations.

Privacy and Security

Risk: Handling sensitive citizen data raises concerns about privacy breaches and cybersecurity threats, compromising public trust in government AI initiatives.

Resolution: Governments can adopt robust data protection measures, such as encryption techniques, and adhere to data compliance laws like GDPR to strengthen data security frameworks and safeguard citizen privacy.

Accountability and Transparency

Risk: AI decisions often lack transparency, making it challenging to understand the rationale behind automated decisions made by government AI systems.

Resolution: To address this challenge, the government should establish clear guidelines for AI accountability, such as transparency requirements and explanation capabilities (“explainable AI“), to gain public trust in the government’s use of AI.

As with any other project, the adoption of AI for governments poses some significant challenges that need to be addressed proactively to leverage the maximum benefits of AI in government. However, the development and deployment of artificial intelligence in government sector is at an early stage and needs to be implemented at scale across the public sector.

To maximize AI opportunities, governments can start with pilot projects and simultaneously pass legislation that facilitates sustainable AI adoption at scale. However, governments have to face several barriers when scaling its AI initiatives. Here is a visual presentation of the major challenges in scaling AI initiatives.

The Future of Artificial Intelligence in Government

As governments continue to invest in Generative AI for the Public Sector, the integration of machine learning, natural language processing, and robotics is anticipated to transform how governments operate.

By leveraging AI in government policies, the officials can optimize program efficiency, automate rule-based tasks, improve service delivery, enhance decision-making processes, and foster greater community engagement. It makes authorities more efficient, responsive, and capable of addressing complex societal challenges in today’s digital age.

Nevertheless, responsible AI deployment, maintaining ethical standards, and prioritizing inclusivity is essential to harness the maximum benefits of AI in government. Accordingly, when it comes to AI—and other related technologies, the government and AI development companies should work together to ensure responsible AI deployment, addressing the source and symptoms of society’s most intricate issues ethically and efficiently.

Even if Generative AI is transforming the government sector rapidly, the development and deployment of artificial intelligence in government sector are still at an early stage and are poised to prevail at scale across the public sector in the coming years.

In light of technological advancements, the present is the right time to shape the next era of government. With so much to be gained and revolutionized, AI-driven governance can proactively redefine the future of government programs, policies, and services.

Want to Leverage AI for Government Services? Appinventiv Can Help!

Appinventiv, a leading AI app development company in Dubai, the UK, and the US, has been working with government agencies for years. We help them streamline their bureaucratic processes, enhance decision-making, and improve citizen services through intelligent automation and predictive analytics.

For instance, we have built Hukoomi, an official gateway for the Qatar government that exemplifies how technology can bridge the gap between government services and its citizens. This advanced ePortal serves as a comprehensive information hub for everyone who stays, works, or visits the country, redefining the web experience for the Qatar Government to interact with the netizens.

Our dedicated efforts in designing the Hukoomi ePortal have yielded impressive results:

• 2.6 million actively engaged users on the website
• Over 1,900 active services are available on the platform
• Nearly 997,000 traffic on the website

You may like to know: How Much Does It Cost to Develop a Web App like Hukoomi?

Interested in building similar solutions and leveraging the power of AI in government services. Well, Appinventiv is here to turn your vision into reality. We carry the core competency in designing, developing, and deploying cutting-edge AI solutions for businesses and public sector institutions. With a proven track record of delivering 3000+ successful projects and a dedicated team of 1500+ tech evangelists, we stand ready to empower governmental organizations in the age of AI.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can help start and scale your AI journey.  Let’s embrace the age of AI transformation together.

FAQs

Q. How can government entities unlock the potential of Gen AI?

A. Government entities can unlock the potential of Generative AI for the public sector by integrating it into its various domains, such as healthcare, transportation, real estate, public safety, etc.

This involves building robust government AI solutions, ensuring ethical AI deployment, addressing common challenges, and collaborating with AI experts and development companies.

Please refer to the above blog to gain an in-depth understanding of how Gen AI in the public sector can help governments and citizens.

Q. What is the cost of developing government AI solutions?

A. The cost of developing AI solutions for government entities varies widely depending on various factors such as the complexity of the solution, locations of AI developers, required functionalities, scope of implementation, and integration with existing systems. On average, the cost to build government AI applications ranges between $30,000 to $300,000 or more, depending on the scale and specific requirements of the AI project.

Discuss your project idea with our AI developers to get a more accurate estimate for government AI solution development cost and timeline.

Q. How is AI transforming governments?

A. AI is revolutionizing governments by automating routine tasks, streamlining administrative processes, improving decision-making through data analysis, enhancing citizen services with chatbots and predictive analytics, and optimizing resource allocation.

The applications of AI in government policies help offices operate more efficiently, respond faster to citizen needs, and innovate across public services.

THE AUTHOR

Sudeep Srivastava

Co-Founder and Director