When governments use AI to predict what the people want

Governments can and do use artificial intelligence to direct their citizens and their policy. But are we prepared for how far it could go? Governments have access to large amounts of data which they can -- and often do -- use to analyse and predict their citizens' behaviours using artificial intelligence (AI) strategies. However while AI can help policy-makers by delivering highly accurate predictions, identifying trends and patterns, predicting complex associations and improving profitability, it may also introduce risks to citizen's privacy and security and threaten free decision-making in society. Researchers from three Universities in Spain explored these risks in a study which surveyed government officials about their institution's use of artificial intelligence.