Artificial intelligence (AI) has come a long way in recent years. From automating mundane tasks to creating artwork and writing code, it is becoming integral in how we solve many of our toughest challenges. Despite these advances, though, fully unlocking AI’s true potential has yet to be achieved and the key lies with how governments use technology.
Scott Jensen, CEO of the nonprofit tech-for-social-impact organization, RIPL, is an expert on this subject. As the former Rhode Island Director of Labor, Jensen had a firsthand experience in the barriers governments face in leveraging technology and how it affected service delivery.
To begin with, he notes that governments need to shift their mindset in relation to technology. Technology alone is not a sufficient stand-alone solution and should be integrated into process changes in order to obtain full effectiveness. Jensen cites the US unemployment insurance systems as proof of his theory—while almost every state revamped their systems to accept Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims, delays were all the same.
The reason for these delays, according to Jensen, is that governments often seek off-the-shelf tech solutions that fail to actually improve public service delivery. Instead, he recommends a resident-first approach in which developers work closely with citizens and their state partners to identify issues and develop solutions that fully integrate with operational modifications.
To further prove this benefit, Jensen highlights how data-driven tech was used in his own institutions in Rhode Island and Hawaii to provide more effective workforce and training programs. By using machine learning and AI to effectively mine large stores of data, citizens were provided with data-backed recommendations of job openings, training opportunities and new careers that had the potential of raising their wages.
In conclusion, it’s clear that governments are prime position to fully unlock the potential of AI, but that it must be done in a comprehensive manner. Only when governments shift their mindsets, make process reform, and develop and integrate tech solutions that are tailored to their citizens’ needs can this potential be fully captured.
