Public servants take up a very big responsibility for the welfare of the community. They have a duty to ensure that everyone receives healthcare, education, transport, food, water, shelter and other basic services. But challenges including concentration of work, outdated systems and less work force often inhibits good and efficient governance and represents a dire need for a much smarter approach.
The public sector can turn to the latest technologies to modernize itself and adopting Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a very smart strategy. In keeping with the requirements in public services, AI has many advantages: it can efficiently tackle huge amounts of information, automate repetitive tasks, is always available and more.
Here are four of the most important AI applications for efficient governance:
- Modernizing Information Management
Governments need to store huge amounts of sensitive information for various purposes including identification, taxation, census and public archives. In most of the cases today, physical documents are used and not digital copies and this automatically demands more manpower to store, maintain, ensure safety and retrieve information.
AI technology can modernize government information storage and distribution streams, very efficiently. Beyond digital transformation, incorporating AI technology in governments should be standardized because AI is very efficient with all sorts of data tasks, especially tasks that prove too big, too time-consuming for human workers. Usually government work grows along with the growth of the country or the state and so, adopting AI is a proactive and meaningful solution.
- Improving Communication
Good communication is the key to maintain healthy relationships with anyone, and the importance of good communication becomes magnified with government responsibilities. And considering additional responsibilities such as foreign relationships, public workers cannot afford to take communication lightly. They must spend time to design an effective strategy and adopt the latest technology. AI technology, in particular, can prove indispensible.
AI tools will allow governments to communicate much more smartly and effectively to almost every individual. Moreover, the technology has the power to identify malicious content such as misleading information, propaganda, and hate speeches. Unfortunately, as the instances of malicious, dark, fabricated or damaging digital content continuously rises, it is necessary for governments to see technology as a primary risk mitigation solution.
An AI-backed system will safely deliver the governments’ message to millions of citizens, earn a positive reputation and powerfully contribute towards the healthy, prosperous and bright future for its people.
- Ensuring Security
One of the most important duties for public workers is to create safe and secure spaces for the community. But when a few people have the duty to overlook a vast area, it proves to be an intimidating challenge. Moreover, security becomes a multi-faceted responsibility when we consider areas such as military, surveillance, entry or exit of many people in airports, public or sensitive institutes and internal communication. To respond tactfully, technology, especially AI must be sought out.
AI technology can efficiently take up duties which seem overwhelming for a few workers. These include managing the identity of citizens, including thumbprints, birth, education, health and residential records as well as the profiles of suspects, wanted criminals or terrorists. If AI is a central component of government administration, a large portion of the duties may be automated and a safer management of identity records is possible.
- Improving Overall Efficiency
In our digital era, almost every organization whether commercial or non-profit, makes use of technology to raise efficiency levels and encourage positive results. But unfortunately, many government bodies across the world are lagging behind today’s thinking or trends. Seeking the latest technological solution is a step towards the solution.
So, governments must invest in the latest technology, including AI, to upgrade outdated systems and become forward-thinking. If governments plan properly, introduce newer, hi-tech solutions and welcome skilled professionals into various departments, there will be more positive results. If diverse government departments and functions are supported by the latest AI solutions, they can learn insights and begin to see possible answers to age-old problems.
Whether it is in police work, education, political campaigning, real estate, AI will provide governments with a data-driven and science-based approach to stay steps ahead of challenges.
In Sum
Public workers have some of the most challenging jobs under the scope of government duties. Given AI technology’s high usefulness in data-intensive tasks and its ability to automate repetitive civilian services, it is an essential and irreplaceable part of modern governance. Besides the applications listed above, there are many more: resource management or allocation, managing financial or tax records and so much more.