Introduction
In the history of human evolution, there are milestones that have transformed culture and generated changes in all disciplines, activities and the way people live. Today, artificial intelligence (AI), associated with large volumes of data, opens a new scenario that generates changes of great impact in all areas of human life.
As a leader in Digital Government, Uruguay has identified this trend in advance and is currently preparing to incorporate AI to the Digital Government. Within that context, Uruguay has defined the goals and objectives for its digital development in the Uruguay Digital Agenda 2020 and in the 2018-2020 Digital Government Plan. Both documents, which are based on the principle of digital transformation with equity, provide a framework to incorporate AI at different levels of government. One of the dimensions established in the Digital Government Plan is the Smart Government, which strengthens decision making by basing decisions on evidence and improves the performance and monitoring of public policy results. In addition, it includes the development of predictive analytical platforms and models to design proactive services.
At present, AI has a potential that allows governments to incorporate new forms of analysis and the use of existing information by adopting a proactive attitude, with the ability to anticipate people's needs or prevent problems. These skills strengthen the development of public policies and consolidate a closer relationship between people and the State. Within the context of the Smart Government, AI appears as a technology conducive to implementing more efficient and innovative services.
However, AI also poses challenges and risks that need to be considered when developing a solution based on this type of technology. As part of the Digital Policy of Uruguay, the implementation of AI in Public Administration (PA) requires general principles that guide the digital transformation of the government and provide a framework to use it in the public sphere. In addition, it is necessary to have a clear strategy in place that incorporates different visions and considerations for the development and responsible use of this technology.
The purpose of this document is to materialize this strategy so that the Public Administration uses artificial intelligence in the development of public services and in the improvement of its internal processes. The general objective of the strategy is to promote and strengthen the responsible use of AI in Public Administration, identifying specific pillars and specific lines of action. This first version was generated by a multidisciplinary working group of Agesic professionals who come from different fields such as technology, law, sociology, and medicine, among others. This holistic approach provides different perspectives on how to address the challenge.
This working group began researching state-of-the-art situations, in particular, examining the experience of countries such as Canada and Italy, pioneers in addressing artificial intelligence strategies focused on digital government. These activities involved the study of work processes and generated documents, as well as exchange instances with directly involved experts. After this initial stage, this document began to shape up and its main objective is, as mentioned above, to promote the responsible use of AI throughout the PA, with a focus on generating better digital services and working processes.
This Artificial Intelligence Strategy for the Digital Government presents the first actions to be carried out, through an open construction process, and shares what has been elaborated with different stakeholders to obtain their vision and contributions, both nationally and internationally. These actions will be the initial kick off of a process that will have to continuously monitor and evolve the use of technology, as well as the results obtained to ensure the equal digital transformation of the Public Administration in Uruguay.