Navigating Generative AI in Government

On behalf of the IBM Center for The Business of
Government, we are pleased to release this new report:
Navigating Generative AI in Government by Professor Dr.
Alexander Richter, Wellington School of Business and
Government, Victoria University of Wellington.

Generative AI refers to algorithms that can create realistic content such
as images, text, music, and videos by learning from existing data
patterns. Generative AI does more than just create content, it also
serves as a user-friendly interface for other AI tools, making complex
results easy to understand and use. Generative AI transforms analysis
and prediction results into personalized formats, improving explainability
by converting complicated data into understandable content. As
Generative AI evolves, it plays an active role in collaborative processes,
functioning as a vital collaborator by offering strengths that complement
human abilities.

Generative AI has the potential to revolutionize government agencies by
enhancing efficiency, improving decision making, and delivering better
services to citizens, while maintaining agility and scalability. However, in
order to implement generative AI solutions effectively, government
agencies must address key questions—such as what problems AI can
solve, data governance frameworks, and scaling strategies, to ensure a
thoughtful and effective AI strategy. By exploring generic use cases,
agencies can better understand the transformative potential of generative
AI and align it with their unique needs and ethical considerations.

This report, which distills perspectives from two expert roundtable of
leaders in Australia, presents 11 strategic pathways for integrating
generative AI in government. The strategies include ensuring coherent
and ethical AI implementation, developing adaptive AI governance
models, investing in a robust data infrastructure, and providing
comprehensive training for employees. Encouraging innovation and
prioritizing public engagement and transparency are also essential to
harnessing the full potential of AI.

We hope that this report provides government leaders and stakeholders
with a practical set of considerations and potential actions that enable
them to capture benefits and minimize risks from generative AI.