3:18 (2023−2024) / Published The use of artificial intelligence in the central government
More than half of the government agencies we have investigated have no experience with the use of artificial intelligence (AI). Our investigation indicates that the coordination is weak, and that the responsible ministry has not assumed the necessary proactive role.
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Attachment: Framework for the assessment of responsible AI
Brief background
AI has the potential to significantly improve productivity in the central government and contribute to fundamentally altering the public administration.
This investigation has examined the following issues:
- Are government agencies using AI to improve and increase the efficiency of services?
- Are government agencies adopting ethical principles when developing and using AI?
- Is the Ministry of Digitalisation and Public Governance’s coordination fostering responsible use of AI in government agencies?
Overall assessment
It is unsatisfactory that the Ministry of Digitalisation and Public Governance, through governance and in cooperation with the other ministries, has inadequately facilitated the public sector’s ability to harness the potential of AI and its responsible adoption. The overall efforts are insufficient given Norway’s ambition of having world-class AI infrastructure.
Conclusions
- Government agencies are harnessing the potential of AI unevenly, and AI is still not widely adopted.
- Important prerequisites for the adoption of AI on a larger scale are not yet in place.
- The ethical principles for the responsible use of AI are observed to varying degrees. Control mechanisms ensuring the responsible use of AI must be in place.
- The coordination of AI-related efforts in the public sector is inadequate, and the overall efforts are insufficient given Norway’s ambition of having world-class AI infrastructure.
Recommendations
The National Audit Office of Norway recommends that the Ministry of Digitalisation and Public Governance strengthen its proactive and coordinating role to actively stimulate and facilitate the responsible use of AI in the public sector in cooperation with other ministries by
- further developing the range of available policy instruments to ensure that the basic prerequisites for the responsible used of AI are in place, such as adequate digital infrastructure, common digital solutions, access to high-quality data and relevant interdisciplinary competence;
- contributing to regulatory clarifications and a unified interpretation of the legislation related to the development and use of AI;
- ensuring a unified understanding of the ethical principles and guidance as to how the principles can be safeguarded in practice in the development and use of AI.