AI innovation for advancing public service

Abstract

The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly popular in the public sector, but there is a severe lack of relevant theoretical research. The government of China also has high expectations for AI innovation. This paper proposes a four-stage model for AI development in public sectors to help public administrators think about the impact of AI on their organizations. We empirically investigate a case of AI adoption for delivering public services in local government in China. The findings improve our understanding of not only the status of AI innovation but also the factors motivating and challenging public sectors that are intending to adopt AI. Given that AI application in public sectors is still in its infancy, this study provides us with an opportunity to conduct longitudinal tracking of AI innovation in local government in China. This could help public administrators to think more comprehensively about the changes and transformations that AI may bring to the public sector.