New Zealand – The New Zealand Minister for Digitising Government Judith Collins has distributed principles to ensure the safe and responsible use of artificial intelligence in the public sector. The initiative assures a transparent and ethical use of AI by agencies while harnessing its promise for productivity and service delivery.
“Use of AI technologies to improve public services is a priority for me, and this guidance will enable its safe and responsible uptake,” Ms Collins says. “AI presents a major opportunity to lift productivity and improve public service delivery but the government must ensure it is done right.”
“This guidance is part of a suite of tools for agencies to adopt AI in ways that are safe, transparent and deliver real value for New Zealanders while upholding the highest standards of trust and accountability. Harnessing AI effectively can significantly improve customer experience and boost efficiency. It can help reduce wait times, triage issues faster and allow public servants to focus on frontline services – and that means delivering better outcomes for New Zealanders while reducing costs to the government.”
The initiative led by the Government Chief Digital Officer (GCDO) is intended to strike a balance between supporting an innovative environment for AI while engendering public confidence in its use. Therefore, the recently launched Public Service AI Framework provides a structure for AI deployment that sits above the Responsible AI Guidance for the Public Service.
Minister Collins stressed AI’s ability to streamline government activity, enhance citizen interaction, and reduce costs. AI-based solutions could reduce turnaround times for government services, maximize issue triaging to support efficient service delivery and free up public servants to concentrate on frontline tasks. Such improvements would mean faster, better services for New Zealanders, with care given to safety and accountability in implementing AI.
The Government is also working with the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE) to deliver an AI guideline for the private sector. This would ensure that both sectors can benefit from AI adoption, fostering innovation and economic development.
Minister Collins acknowledged the rapid pace of AI development and asserted that public policy in its governance will evolve in step with its technological advancements and societal expectations.
“AI systems are evolving rapidly, and government policies, guidance and use cases will continue to adapt alongside these advancements and public expectations,” she stated.
As AI transforms industries, the New Zealand government is actively guiding its adoption to maximize gain while minimizing risk. The new AI framework ensures that public-sector agencies are equipped for effective and responsible AI use.
Source: https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/guidance-safe-use-ai-public-sector
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