Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Government

A goal of many public administrators to create reliable, repeatable administrative processes parallels nicely with the promise of artificial intelligence in that AI can improve performance and consistency of public services. But as Tom Davenport and Julia Kirby observe about AI in their recent book, Only Humans Need to Apply: Winners and Losers in the Age of Smart Machines, “The moment a realm of intellectual activity is codifiable, it ceases to be uniquely human.” So, what does this portend for the work of government employees in the future? As part of its 20th-anniversary activities this year, the IBM Center is exploring how the government might operate 20 years in the future. It recently held the second in its series of “Envision Government in 2040” sessions, focusing on the potential impact of artificial intelligence on government operations.