Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers significant opportunities across the entire public sector, including safety and justice, public spaces, and social services. AI applications can lead to improved solutions for societal challenges and enhance work processes within government organisations. With the increasing availability of high-quality data, governments are finding more opportunities to implement AI.
Encouraging AI innovation
The Dutch government has been experimenting with AI, as shown by the Quick Scan of AI Application in the Public Sector (by the National Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), 2019). Experiments are frequently conducted with chatbots, decision algorithms, and translation algorithms. Many of these initiatives are likely to have broader applications; there is a need within the government to learn from each other.
The Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK) promotes innovation with AI in the public sector in three ways:
1. Strengthening the ecosystem
In knowledge development for innovation with AI, the focus is not just on technical expertise but also on understanding effective project management. For example, PIANOo’s innovation toolkit (Expertise Centre for Procurement) is being supplemented with elements crucial for AI innovations. The Netherlands AI Coalition collaborates with government, business, educational and research institutions, and social organizations to position the Netherlands strongly in both the development and application of AI. The Netherlands also collaborates internationally, especially within Europe, on building knowledge about AI. For more information, see the ‘Coordinated plan on AI’ from the European Commission.
2. Experimentation
There is still relatively little experience with AI projects that explicitly focus on public values. It is important that good use cases are available to help organisations apply AI and share solutions. In 2020, BZK will focus on use cases in the social domain and public spaces, among others.
3. Challenging the market
Typical ICT contracts from the government offer limited opportunities for innovative SMEs due to the government’s procurement conditions. Yet, many AI innovations come from these smaller companies. The government can engage these innovative entrepreneurs for innovations through means such as Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR), innovation partnerships, and hackathons. In 2019, BZK and the Ministry of Justice and Security launched the SBIR ‘AI in the Public Sector’. Twenty-one proposals across various fields were approved. A new SBIR will commence in 2020.
