EC Library Guide on sustainable governance and artificial intelligence: Selected publications

Selected publications from international organisations

Artificial intelligence in the public sector: Maximizing opportunities, managing risks
World Bank, 2020.

The paper curate’s knowledge residing in public documents and aims to distill lessons learned on how to adopt and use AI as part of a public sector modernization strategy. The paper’s primary scope is on governance-related aspects. Chapter two elaborates on the opportunities being availed by governmentsaround the world using AI. These opportunities should be availed while managing associated risks, which are discussed in chapter three. For maximizing opportunities and managing risks, governments need to adopt AI ethical principles and institutional arrangements, discussed in chapter four. Chapter five discusses the ethical dimensions that need a broader policy response at the national level. Chapter six enumerates the building blocks necessary for a successful long-term AI strategy. The appendices contain information for practitioners.
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Appendix A provides technical information and additional resources for further support, and Appendix B highlights solutions that rely on AI for improvements in efficiency, scientific analysis, and prediction within the disciplines. To fully comprehend the impact that AI might have on governments, it is necessary to develop a solid understanding of key AI concepts. The paper does not offer in-depth coverage of work in specific sectors. The findings in the paper were validated through interviews with industry experts. Special efforts have been made to ensure the architectural design approaches discussed in the paper incorporate the best industry knowledge. The paper goes to great lengths to maintain a practical approach, with ‘handson’ examples of architectures and applications.
Leveraging artificial intelligence for proactive delivery of public policies and services

OECD, in Government at a Glance, OECD Publishing, 2023.

Proactive governments anticipate people’s needs and respond to them rapidly, increasing accessibility and satisfaction with public services and reducing administrative burdens. The strategic and ethical adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), such as that promoted by the OECD AI Principles and the OECD Recommendation of the Council on Artificial Intelligence, can help governments achieve this vision.
Making the leap from e-government to digital government
González-Zapata, F. and Piccinin-Barbieri, M., in Development co-operation report 2021: Shaping a just digital transformation, OECD Publishing, 2022.

To characterise and benchmark the transition from e-government to more comprehensive digital government, the OECD Digital Government Index assesses six dimensions critical for digital competence in the public sector. While OECD countries have made progress on the foundations for digital government, digital tools and data will need to be leveraged better to be transformational in the public sector.
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Experience of OECD and other governments participating in the index provide lessons for digital government strategies in low- and middle-income countries, including the critical need for sound governance frameworks; focusing on people and their needs; the importance of investing in reliable, reusable and interoperable systems and tools; and fostering digital co-operation on challenges that defy boundaries.
Mettre l’intelligence artificielle au service d'une mise en œuvre proactive des politiques et services publics
OECD, in Panorama des administrations publiques, OECD Publishing, 2023.

Une administration proactive anticipe les besoins des individus pour y répondre rapidement, rendant les services publics plus accessibles, augmentant la satisfaction des usagers et allégeant les charges administratives. Pour transformer cette vision en réalité, les pays s'appuient sur une utilisation stratégique et digne de confiance de l’intelligence artificielle (IA), conforme à ce que promeuvent les Principes de l’OCDE sur l’IA et la Recommandation du Conseil sur l’intelligence artificielle.
UNESCO Science Report: The race against time for smarter development
UNESCO, 2021.

Countries of all income levels are prioritizing their transition to digital and green economies. On the one hand, countries have committed to reaching their ambitious Sustainable Development Goals by the 2030 deadline. In parallel, most countries are convinced that their future economic competitiveness will depend upon how quickly they manage to transition to digital societies. The UNESCO Science Report’s subtitle, ‘the race against time for smarter development’, is an allusion to these dual development priorities.
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In response to these growing concerns, UNESCO has published a policy paper containing analyses of burgeoning “experimental” AI tools such as ChatGPT which have taken the world by storm through the lens of the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence. Crucially, the paper is grounded in ethical principles, and highlights the known effects of such models in relation to the principles and policy areas of the Recommendation.
Why sustainable governance and corporate integrity are crucial for ESG

World Economic Forum, 29/7/2022.

The article answers the questions: How should we define and assess the G in ESG (environmental, social and governance)? Where does anti-corruption fit within emerging ESG frameworks? And can a company or investment fund be considered “sustainable” if corporate integrity is left on the sidelines of certification criteria and reporting priorities?