Artificial Intelligence in the Delivery of Public Services

The report, jointly prepared by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and Google, showcases successful models of leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) for improved public services in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. Although AI is a widely discussed topic today, case studies on how AI is concretely applied in the public sector are rare. The report aims to fill the gap and features insights as well as context-specific recommendations from deployments of AI in a variety of sectors: health, justice, agriculture, environment, insurance and social welfare. Public-private partnerships will become increasingly important to complement government initiatives with industry knowledge and expertise. Amid the rapid pace of technological development, the report recommends that governments develop frameworks to regulate these partnerships and encourage more public information on AI projects to foster a landscape conducive to informed decision-making on AI partnerships.