Keynote 1 - ICEDEG 2025

Transforming Opportunities and Challenges - having a stable and innovative government

Abstract

Governments worldwide try to take advantage of new technologies by transforming their operations and interactions with their constituents. Transforming might bring many benefits like increased efficiency and effectiveness, more rational, consistent, and equal decision-makers, integrated service provisioning, and better engagement with constituents. Specifically, generative AI can be disruptive and can change all aspects of the policy cycle, however, adopting technologies comes with serious risks. Specifically, GenAI can provide answers in seconds but can also hollow out the public servants' role. Government should focus on providing their civil servants with critical capabilities and the means to learn in the digital age. Also, AI is often operated and highly influenced by commercial parties who adhere to values other than those expected by the government. Whereas private parties aim to make a profit, public organizations should warrant societal values such as transparency, fairness, privacy, and inclusion. Gaining the benefits of the opportunities provided by transformation requires dealing with many challenges. In this keynote talk, the need to ensure a stable government that is able to innovate at the same time is discussed. Also, mechanisms for ensuring stability and stimulating innovation to gain benefits without falling into the trap of making risks and mistakes are presented. A risk is the push by politicians who do not understand the nature of transformation. Overall, this requires a deep understanding of the technology, the government, and the desired outcomes.