Based on the analysis of four distinct AI cases across diverse U.S. federal agencies, this ongoing research paper aims to uncover some of the opportunities and challenges posed by AI and specifically self-learning as one of its main features. Our preliminary results underscore the necessity of contextual analysis in deploying AI systems, thereby contributing to previous research on different characteristics and types of AI

This article debates the need for an analytical framework of AI in the public sector based on the three levels of public administration: macro, meso, and micro. Also, it includes a review of the state-of-the-art in the field using the articles presented in the special issue on Artificial Intelligence and Public Administration: Actors, Governance, and Policy.  

This empirical study explores how chatbots influence government operations and their relationship with citizens. Theauthors conducted in-depth interviews with officials and employees from twenty-two state agencies in the United States. Leveraging insights from public sector innovation and digital transformation literature, the study reveals various process- and product-related outputs and outcomes within organizations and in government-citizen interactions stemming from chatbot use.

This report is the result of our first research activity aimed at identifying and assessing the role of public libraries in raising awareness about AI and fostering inclusive civic engagement in AI initiatives through a review of publicly available documents and public libraries’ websites. Accordingly, the report offers an overview of the current AI-related programs and services in public libraries across the United States. It delineates the purpose and diversity of AI initiatives undertaken by these libraries, showcasing the breadth of programs offered and their intended objectives. 

This paper this paper aims to investigate the innovative programs, services, and strategies implemented by public libraries with the goal of raising awareness about AI and fostering inclusive civic engagement in AI initiatives in their communities.

This article explores what determinants enable or hinder the adoption and implementation in US state agencies. It therefore critically distinguishes between two stages of technology deployment in government organizations. 

This chapter lists several artificial intelligence techniques and applications used in the public sector and also provides practical lessons. It concludes with a few remarks and suggests ideas for future research on artificial intelligence algorithms and applications in the public sector. 

This research proposes a framework for the negative impacts of artificial intelligence (AI) in government by classifying 14 topics of its dark side into five socio technical categories. The framework is based on a systematic literature review and highlights that the dark side is predominantly driven by political, legal, and institutional aspects, but it is also influenced by data and technology. 

This article, introducing a Special Issue on Artificial Intelligence in Government published in the Social Science Computer Review, presents an overview of some of the main policy initiatives across the world in relation to AI in government and discusses the state of the art of existing research. 

This Primer is a curated mix of perspectives designed to provide government leaders and managers with a foundation on AI as well as some recommended actions they can take now. 

This special issue focuses on actual implementation approaches or challenges that public managers are facing while they fulfill new policy that asks for the implementation of AI in public administrations. 

This paper analyzes the smart examination and approval (SEA) process use in China and explores how different forms of automation could be better options for certain services or specific processes within services, considering their level of transparency as an important characteristic. In this context, automation via expert systems (ES) is still a vital complement or even an alternative to AI techniques, because they can be more easily audited for potential biases. 

This study attempts to contribute to this gap in our existing knowledge by answering the following research question: To what extent can artificial intelligence techniques help distribute public spending to increase GDP, decrease inflation and reduce the Gini index?  Some technical aspects of the expenditure allocation process could be improved with the help of these kinds of techniques. 

By using a case study that involves a large research university in England and two different county councils in a multiyear collaborative project around AI, we study the challenges that interorganizational collaborations face in adopting AI tools and implementing organizational routines to address them.  

There is a scarcity of empirical evidence surrounding the challenges and approaches to artificial intelligence deployment. Using data analytics, our study moves from speculation to gathering evidence. Our findings show that most challenges arise during implementation and relate to skills, culture, and resistance to share information driven by data challenges.  

In this paper, we argue that data management capabilities are foundational to data analysis of any kind, but even more important in the present AI context. 

This paper introduces the special issue about the generation of public value through smart technologies and strategies. The key argument is that smart technologies have the potential to foster co-creation of public services and the generation of public value in management processes, based on the collaborative, social and horizontal nature of these smart technologies.  

Zong-Xian Huang and J. Ramon Gil-Garcia. (2024, November 1). Understanding Algorithmic Bias in Artificial Intelligence Systems: Types, Origins, Consequences, and Solutions [Conference Presentation]. Northeast Conference on Public Administration (NECoPA), Pace University, New York, NY. 

Aryamala Prasad, Zong-Xian Huang, Mila Gascó-Hernández, and J. Ramon Gil-Garcia. (2024, March 21). Exploring AI in Public Libraries: Programs for Communities [Conference Presentation]. AI and Libraries Mini-Conference, Virtual.  

Mila Gascó-Hernández. (2023, October 11-13). Teaching Digital Governance from a Comparative Perspective [Conference Presentation]. Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) Annual Conference, Pittsburgh, PA.  

Tzuhao Chen and Mila Gascó-Hernández. (2023, April 3-5). The Perceived Impact of Using Artificial Intelligence Chatbots in Public Organizations: Insights from US State Governments [Conference Presentation]. XXVII Annual Conference of the International Research Society for Public Management (IRSPM), Budapest, Hungary.  

Yongjin Choi, J. Ramon Gil-Garcia, Oguz Aranay, Brian Burke, and Derek Werthmuller. (2021). Using Artificial Intelligence Techniques for Evidence-Based Decision Making in Government: Random Forest and Deep Neural Network Classification for Predicting Harmful Algal Blooms in New York State. In Jooho Lee, Gabriela Viale Pereira, and Sungsoo Hwang (Eds.), Proceedings of the 22nd Annual International Conference on Digital Government Research (DG.O 2021) (pp. 27–37). Association for Computing Machinery.

Meghan E. Cook and Jeffrey Baez. (2021). Informing a Statewide Investment: The NYS Voter Registration Data Pattern Detection Prototype Project. In Jooho Lee, Gabriela Viale Pereira, and Sungsoo Hwang (Eds.), Proceedings of the 22nd Annual International Conference on Digital Government Research (DG.O 2021) (pp. 60–66). Association for Computing Machinery.

David Valle-Cruz, J. Ramon Gil-Garcia, and Vanessa Fernandez-Cortez. (2020). Towards Smarter Public Budgeting? Understanding the Potential of Artificial Intelligence Techniques to Support Decision Making in Government. In Seok-Jin Eom and Jooho Lee (Eds.), 21st Annual International Conference on Digital Government Research (dg.o 2020) (pp. 232–242). Association for Computing Machinery.

Ahn Michael, Jesse Lecy, Luis F. Luna-Reyes, Yu-Che Chen, and Stuart Bretschneider. (2019, October 16-19). Artificial Intelligence and Big Data: An Agenda for Public Affairs Research and Education [Conference Presentation]. Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) Annual Conference, Los Angeles, CA.  

Mila Gascó-Hernández. (2024, November 5-7). Fighting Blight with Community-driven AI Solutions [Invited Presenter]. Smart City Expo World Congress 2024, Barcelona, Spain.   

Mila Gascó-Hernández. (2024, November 7). UNDESA Global Policy Dialogue on Preparing for the Impact of AI on the Public Sector [Invited Panelist]. Leveraging Digital Technologies for SDG Action, Virtual. 

Mila Gascó-Hernández. (2024, October 4). Adoption and implementation of AI in public organizations: Drivers and determinants of success. [Keynote Speaker]. 2024 International Conference on Theory and Practice of Electronic Governance (ICEGOV), Pretoria, South Africa.

Mila Gascó-Hernández. (2024, June 5). Digital Dialogues: Exploring the Intersection of Libraries and AI. [Invited Panelist]. Capital District Library Council’s Digital Dialogues: Exploring the Intersection of Libraries and AI Webinar, Virtual. 

Mila Gascó-Hernández. (2024, March 14). Foundations in AI: A Conversation between Academia and Government [Invited Presenter]. New York State Academy for Public Administration (SAPA) Webinar: Foundations in AI, Virtual. 

Mila Gascó-Hernández. (2023, November 7-9). Fighting Urban Inequity in Small and Mid-Sized Cities through Artificial Intelligence [Invited Presenter]. Smart City Expo World Congress 2023, Barcelona, Spain. 

Mila Gascó-Hernández. (2023, October 10). AI Use in Government Organizations in Europe and the United States [Invited Presenter]. Transatlantic Dialogues on the Governance of Public Services. National Congress on Innovation and Public Services, Madrid, Spain.   

J. Ramon Gil-Garcia. (2023, November 1). Artificial Intelligence in the Public Sector: Definitions, Benefits, and Negative Consequences [Invited Presenter]. AI in Evaluation Workshop. Center for Human Services Research, University at Albany, State University of New York, Virtual. 

J. Ramon Gil-Garcia. (2023, October 16). Artificial Intelligence in the Public Sector: Promises and Limitations from a Multidimensional Perspective [Invited Presenter]. Inaugural SUNY AI Symposium. The Office of the Provost, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY. 

J. Ramon Gil-Garcia. (2023, September 22). Artificial Intelligence in the Public Sector: Promises and Limitations from a Multidimensional Perspective [Invited Presenter]. Roundtable on Efforts Related to the Workplace and Artificial Intelligence and Decision Assistance Tech, Executive Board, Division 357 (ITS), Public Employees Federation, Albany, NY. 

J. Ramon Gil-Garcia. (2022, September 12-14). Artificial Intelligence in the Public Sector: Promises, Challenges and Implications [Keynote Speaker]. 1st Innovation and Smart Government Conference (ISGov). Universidad Autonoma de Tamaulipas, Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Mexico y Laboratorio de Innovacion Publica e Inteligencia Artificial (Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico), Virtual. 

J. Ramon Gil-Garcia. (2022, May 31). Artificial Intelligence in the Public Sector: Promises, Challenges and Implications (In Spanish) [Keynote Speaker]. Conferencias Magistrales INFOTEC 2022-2023: Transformación Digital e Innovación Pública. Centro de Investigacion e Innovacion en Tecnologias de la Informacion y Comunicacion, Mexico City, Mexico, Virtual. 

Mila Gascó-Hernández. (2023, November 9). Adoption and Implementation of AI in the Public Sector from a Public Administration/Management Perspective [Symposium Presenter]. UAlbany AI Symposium. University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY. 

CTG UAlbany Research Director and Rockefeller College Associate Professor Mila Gascó-Hernández appointed to the Capital District Library Council’s AI in Libraries Planning Committee. 

CTG UAlbany Director and Rockefeller College Professor J. Ramon Gil-Garcia and CTG UAlbany Research Director and Rockefeller College Associate Professor Mila Gascó-Hernández invited to serve on the Social Impact, Ethics, and Trustworthy AI working group of the SUNY Artificial Intelligence Task Force.  

CTG UAlbany Research Director and Rockefeller College Associate Professor Mila Gascó-Hernández was part of the programming committee of the Inaugural SUNY AI Symposium. 

CTG UAlbany Director and Rockefeller College Professor J. Ramon Gil-Garcia is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board for the Book:  Charalabidis, Yannis, Rony Medaglia and Colin Van Noordt, (Eds.) (2023). Research Handbook on Public Management and Artificial Intelligence. Cheltenhaan: Edward Elgar Publishing. [England] 

CTG UAlbany Director and Rockefeller College Professor J. Ramon Gil-Garcia is a Rockefeller College Representatives on the AI Curriculum Committee, University at Albany, State University of New York.  [United States] 

CTG UAlbany Research Director and Rockefeller College Associate Professor Mila Gascó-Hernández served as co-chair of the AI in Government minitrack for the 56th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS) January 3-6, 2023, in Maui, Hawaii. Mila has been co-chair of this minitrack since 2022.   

A recent CTG UAlbany research study on state government chatbots highlights their potential to optimize workloads, enhance communication and reduce waits. They're becoming essential, but challenges around feedback and privacy could impact that. 

The University at Albany’s Center for Technology in Government has launched the AI in Government Lab to highlight a substantial body of work dedicated to the study and application of artificial intelligence (AI) in the public sector. 

UAlbany's Center for Technology in Government is deploying artificial intelligence (AI) to aid the city of Schenectady monitor the use of city assets. 

UAlbany students Michelle Leon Vasquez, Tyler Jardine and Kelvin Cai are getting a first-hand look at how artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to improve the lives of individuals. They are working side-by-side with the University’s Center for Technology in Government (CTG UAlbany) to assist the city of Schenectady in monitoring the use of city assets. 

A University at Albany research team conducted a study on how 22 state government agencies are harnessing chatbot technology, uncovering valuable insights into the challenges faced and lessons learned. 

Researchers from CTG UAlbany and University College London (UCL)’s School of Public Policy examine the use of chatbots by governments, and what factors have led to their successful deployment or failure. 

The University at Albany’s Center for Technology in Government (CTG UAlbany) is partnering with the Urban Libraries Council (ULC) to examine how libraries can empower communities to better understand AI and ensure its ethical design and application. 

In a new article in the International Journal of Electronic Government Research (IJEGR), Center for Technology in Government (CTG UAlbany) Director J. Ramon Gil-Garcia and Professor Yi Long of the Shanghai University of Political Science and Law analyze the AI processes currently utilized in China to manage government services, and whether other forms of automation could be better options for ensuring transparency. 

CTG UAlbany Research Assistant and Rockefeller College Doctoral Student Tzuhao Chen featured in UAlbany story about his research interests, work at CTG, and plans for the future.   

Center for Technology in Government Director and Rockefeller College Professor J. Ramon Gil-Garica along with researchers from Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México have conducted a study on how artificial intelligence techniques can be used to boost government decision-making by gearing public spending toward increasing GDP, decreasing inflation and reducing income inequality. 

Computer Science students from the University at Albany’s College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS) started to understand how the technology works by building their own chatbot through CTG UAlbany’s Student Technology Innovations Lab Experience (STILE) this summer. 

Contact us by emailing ctginfo@albany.edu