The Impact of AI on Government Services
Mohammad J Sear
Digital Gov. & Public Sector Consulting Leader, Middle East and Africa (MENA) at EY
Artificial intelligence (AI) is software that enhances and builds on the knowledge-based work done by humans. AI can be applied to different types of work and it can be described as either narrow or general. Narrow AI describes using AI for repetitive tasks or tasks that follow a certain pattern while the goal of general AI is to create a machine capable of performing intellectual functions like the human brain.
Artificial intelligence will reason, learn and solve problems faster and better than humans. However, these abilities are only speculated expectations and do not yet exist probably till 2030. And considering the complexity of achieving general AI, some scientists think that it may take well over a century to develop an intellectually intelligent machine. Some analysts are speculating that by 2100 scientists will develop a super-intelligence AI that surpasses human abilities and intellect.
The long-term potential of AI could have a significant effect on individuals, businesses, and the government. AI can change and improve our operations as individuals and the government. Some AI applications can create value for economies and societies in different parts of the world
AI has helped to improve the quality of life across different sectors of society such as the educational sector, and health care, and optimized crisis response.
Incorporating artificial intelligence into government activities is for social good. Take for instance the National Health Service in the United Kingdom; they initiated a COVID-19 Chest Imaging Database providing access to a library of chest X-rays, CT scans, and MRI images to aid the testing and development of AI technologies to tackle COVID-19 and other types of health conditions.
Businesses have experienced more productivity and operational efficiency by incorporating autonomous robotics in manufacturing, intelligent cargo routing, and AI-optimized supply chains among others. For instance, many logistics companies are incorporating AI-powered robots into their warehouse operations.
Government can also get maximum benefits from AI by personalizing it. Think about "Siri" working in a national capacity like Singapore's "Ask Jamie."
"Ask Jamie" is a virtual assistant in Singapore that assists individuals and businesses through AI-powered chat and voice.
This is not to say that AI doesn't pose a threat to the government, however, it's up to the government to navigate through the downsides and ensure that AI only works for the benefit of its citizens.
How Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing are transforming citizen engagement, fraud detection, and data analysis.
Another interesting aspect of the AI process is machine learning (ML). This involves using computer programs to analyze data and use the result to inform a decision or prediction.
A particularly promising AI process is machine learning (ML), whereby computer programs analyze data and use their newfound knowledge to inform a decision or make a prediction.
There are two types of machine learning: “supervised” and “unsupervised”.
Supervised machine learning
In supervised learning, the user tells the MLA (machine learning algorithms) which outcome to predict.
Unsupervised machine learning
In supervised machine learning, the machine learns the algorithm without the user's instruction, it learns on its own. The MLA is designed for specific purposes like determining the structure of the whole dataset (this is known as modeling) or finding interesting subsets of the dataset (this is known as detection).
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An example of modeling could be the identification of different groups of workers within a data set of paid workers while an example of detection could be fraud detection or identifying unusual patterns in the health and care sector.
So, what can AI do for governments?
1. Natural language processing
Natural language processing (NLP) enables machines to process data (audio, text) to perform tasks such as translation, interactive dialogue, and sentiment analysis. Machine learning has made it possible for NLP research to improve from the meaning of ordinary words to the meaning of sentences which enables machines to process more information from unstructured text data and get better insights
Government is interested in investing in these technologies to mine public sentiment concerning citizens' preferences related to policy propositions and to enable NLP for surveillance and biometric identification.
2. Fraud Detection
The government can use AI to detect individual data records (such as fraudulent transactions) within complex datasets to identify those that are inappropriate or unusual.
Detection MLAs enable government officials to discover patterns that may seem less important. Also, MLAs can help the government achieve a high level of situational awareness.
3. Data Analysis
AI ensures a well-structured and composed data analysis across all inputs. Since AI is not controlled by human sentiment and can analyze massive and complex volumes of data in quick succession, AI can predict the outcome of your campaigns.
Conclusion
Government can enjoy the benefits of AI by investing in research to learn more about its operations. Considering that AI has its downside, the government must ensure to safeguard and prioritize its citizen's privacy and safety.
Collateral Registries و Companies Registries Specialist
1yLove the idea of Narrow AI.