Artificial Intelligence Is the New Secret Sauce for Good Governance

Machine Learning and Data Science Techniques for Effective Government Service Delivery

1.0 Introduction

The word “Governance” originated from the Greek word “Kubernaein, which means “to steer”. There are many definitions of governance, but in a broad sense, governance refers to a set of well-defined principles and norms through which stockholders interact to steer towards creating a cohesive society (Mark, 2012). Governance is as old as human civilization. UNESCAP defines good governance means that “processes and institutions produce results that meet the needs of the society while making the best use of the resources at their disposal”. Kofi Annan, the ex-Secretary General of the United Nations, once said, “Good governance probably is the single most important factor for eradicating poverty and promoting development”.

Three sectors of society can facilitate good governance in any country (Sales, 1991). They are public, private and civil societies. While the public and private societies are well defined, civil society consists of a community of citizens linked by common interests covering. NGOs, Labor Unions, religious organizations, charities, professional associations and many more. Civil society, sometimes called the “third sector” organizations, are purely independent and voluntary that provide support and advocacy for specific people or causes in the community that may originate either from the public or private sector. Each of these entities needs governance to be effective and positively contribute to societal governance.

Civil society, by nature, is well organized. They play more of a voluntary role and fill the space untouched by the private and public sectors. The private sector, which is mainly driven by profit, got the necessary resources and framework for creating and implementing good governance. It’s the public sector which provides public goods and governmental services, which is maximally controlled by the state and has the maximum complexity to deal. With rapid digitization and sharper societal need, the public sector is ill-equipped to provide good governance without adequate social and economic infrastructure. The paper aims to identify and explore areas where AI can be leveraged to transform governance. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming a transformative force in the intersection of technology and governance, reshaping the principles of efficient governance in our current era. This article explores the significant impact of AI on improving the effectiveness, clarity, and agility of government operations, establishing it as the next key factor for promoting good governance.

Good governance is fundamentally defined by concepts such as accountability, openness, responsiveness, and inclusion. These principles are becoming more challenging to uphold due to the increasing population and complicated socioeconomic issues. Artificial intelligence, with its exceptional ability to process data, make predictions, and automate tasks, presents a new and effective way to address these difficulties directly. By incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into many aspects of governance, such as public service provision and policy development, governments can tap into untapped possibilities for improving administrative effectiveness and enhancing public well-being. This study examines the diverse applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in governance, encompassing its contributions to refining decision-making processes, optimizing resource allocation, increasing public service delivery, and promoting more civic involvement. Additionally, it rigorously analyzes the obstacles and moral deliberations that arise when integrating AI into public administration, including issues related to privacy, algorithmic prejudice, and the digital divide.