Governing with Artificial Intelligence: The State of Play and Way Forward in Core Government Functions

⚡ Quick Summary

This 2024 UNDP report assesses the integration of artificial intelligence into six foundational government functions: public service delivery, regulation, taxation, justice, social protection, and elections. It presents 15 country case studies and over 30 examples of AI systems currently in use. The report provides actionable guidance to policymakers, development partners, and civil society on deploying AI responsibly, with a focus on equity, inclusion, transparency, and accountability. By centering human rights and public interest, it bridges the gap between high-level AI principles and on-the-ground implementation in public administration.

🧩 What’s Covered

The report maps the state of AI use in six core government functions:

Public service delivery – Examples include intelligent chatbots for citizen engagement (e.g., Peru’s “Pia”) and resource allocation tools in education and healthcare.
Regulation – Focus on AI for compliance monitoring, risk detection, and inspection planning, especially in Brazil, Singapore, and the EU.
Taxation – Use cases like predictive risk modelling and anomaly detection for tax compliance in countries such as Ghana and India.
Justice – Deployment of AI for case prioritization, legal search, and sentencing guidance, with caution around transparency and fairness.
Social protection – AI tools for targeting beneficiaries and fraud detection, but raising concerns about data biases and exclusion.
Elections – Both opportunities (e.g., civic engagement, disinformation monitoring) and risks (e.g., deepfakes, voter manipulation) are highlighted.

The report includes AI Readiness Snapshots by country, identifies common implementation challenges, and introduces a Decision-Making Framework for AI in government. This framework guides users through five stages: exploration, experimentation, evaluation, expansion, and embedding. It also recommends safeguards such as algorithmic audits, grievance mechanisms, and participatory governance.

💡 Why it matters?

As governments embrace AI to modernize operations, the stakes are high: algorithmic systems influence rights, access to services, and democratic processes. This report equips public officials and international partners with a shared vocabulary and roadmap to manage these risks proactively. By connecting AI deployment with principles of good governance and sustainable development, it lays the foundation for digital public infrastructure that is both effective and ethical. In a world where AI adoption is accelerating across sectors, this guide offers timely, concrete steps to avoid unintended harms — particularly to marginalized groups.

❓ What’s Missing

While rich in examples and guiding principles, the report could benefit from:

Deeper analysis of procurement practices for AI systems in the public sector.
Clearer metrics or KPIs for responsible AI implementation.
Greater discussion of AI capacity building at local (sub-national) levels of government.
Exploration of public-private partnerships, especially regarding foundational model providers.
Practical toolkits or checklists (beyond principles) for public servants managing AI projects.