AI in Local Government: What It Means for Administrators
Government agencies often face challenges like limited resources and overwhelming workloads. To address these issues, many are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to improve efficiency.
Chatbots, for example, can assist residents by answering questions, guiding them through application processes, and connecting them to services they qualify for. This can help reduce wait times and make government services more accessible.
Potential Tradeoffs of AI Implementation
However, introducing AI in public-facing government services—such as food stamps, unemployment, or disability benefits—comes with important considerations. A recent report by the Roosevelt Institute highlights possible tradeoffs when automating these interactions.
One key point is that AI tools may increase the workload for administrators rather than reduce it. Automated systems can generate new tasks like monitoring AI decisions, handling exceptions, and managing errors that require human intervention.
Why Public Administration Employees’ Input Matters
Before deploying AI, it's crucial to involve those who work within public administration. Their insights can help identify challenges and practical issues that AI might create or fail to address.
Engaging frontline employees ensures AI tools support their work effectively instead of creating additional burdens. This approach helps design systems that improve service delivery without unintended consequences.
Learn More and Prepare
If you work in government and want to stay informed about AI applications in public administration, consider exploring resources and training. For example, Complete AI Training offers courses tailored to different job roles, including those in public service.
Understanding AI’s impact on your work will help you adapt and contribute to making these tools beneficial for both employees and the public.
- AI and Government Workers: Use Cases in Public Administration – Roosevelt Institute
- Automation Courses and Resources
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