AI, Technology & Citizen-Centered Governance Initiative

Understanding the opportunities and risks of new technologies for the public sector and state-citizen compact

Addressing critical questions at the nexus of AI advancements, governance and development.

As artificial intelligence continues to permeate every facet of modern life, it brings significant promise and risks. While the power of AI and its potential implications are widely discussed, less attention is given to its impact on the public sector and citizens’ well-being. Rooted in ISE’s commitment to strengthen citizen-centered governance, this initiative explores how AI can be harnessed to improve outcomes for citizens and the state-citizen compact while addressing the risks it poses.

ISE’s Artificial Intelligence and Citizen-Centered Governance initiative aims to:

Contribute to understanding and anticipating AI’s impact on global issues including governance, trade and markets, human capital and the future of work

Investigate and assess the impact of AI on core governance functions and explore practical applications of AI to enhance state functions

Develop frameworks for responsible AI implementation in the public sector and improve government adoption readiness

Increase transparency and create opportunities for citizens in AI innovation and applications, and contribute to the discourse surrounding its governance

Apply AI innovatively to development challenges including reform sequencing and prioritization, national development planning and economic competitiveness

Identify AI governance risks and opportunities to help stakeholders leverage its potential for strengthening the state-citizen compact

Lines of Effort

Foresight Strategy and Policy Issues: Develop a contextual understanding and anticipate key issues for Al for society and governance and economic outcomes through a citizen-centered lens.

Goal: Identify policy issues and address the big questions to enhance the understanding of the potential, impact and issues for AI on society, governance and economics.

Operational Research: Focused research using ISE’s Ten Functions of the State and other key methodologies to understand how AI is currently being applied, where the successes and challenges have been and anticipate opportunities and risks for AI applications in governance. 

Goal: Develop operational frameworks and guidance to policymakers on the pragmatic application of Al to improve reform operations and time to impact.

Tools Innovation: Integrate AI ethically to improve ISE’s existing analytical tools and develop new ones where beneficial.

Goal: Develop new tools and innovation around ISE’s key methodologies and existing tools, including its Reform Sequencing Tracker and Open Moments Framework.

Public Sector AI Readiness: Support to public sector readiness through building capacity and determining appropriate sequencing, ensuring the building blocks for AI adoption are in place, from energy sources to data availability and trained personnel.

Goal: Create education, training and communities of practice to foster ongoing knowledge sharing.

Goal: Provide advice to governments and companies on technology adoption, acting as a trusted partner as they right-size the application and impact of AI in their operations.

Goal: Create pathways for a range of actors to participate in the discourse around AI governance ensuring that both local capacities are built and that AI technologies are built with communities at the center.