AI Watch. European landscape on the use of Artificial Intelligence by the Public Sector

This report provides the result of the second landscaping study conducted in the context of AI Watch, the European Commission knowledge service to monitor the development, uptake and impact of Artificial Intelligence in Europe. The report presents the results of the mapping of the use of AI in public services. The findings are based on three pillars: (i) an analysis of national strategies by European Member States on AI that focuses on how these strategies describe policy actions to address AI development in the public sector, (ii) an inventory of AI use cases in the public sector to provide an overview of the status of AI implementation in Europe, and (iii) in-depth case studies which describe in detail the factors and consequences crucial for the responsible development and adoption of AI. The findings highlight that the use of AI by public administrations is growing. AI technologies could significantly improve the effectiveness and efficiency of public administrations. However, the diffusion of AI remains unequal and barriers to AI adoption require significant considerations by policymakers to tackle. In particular, ensuring the right balance between public and private sector expertise and capacity, ensuring strong collaboration, enhancing data governance and risk mitigation are among the main ways to advance. These results contribute to the existing body of knowledge on the topic by moving from a more theoretical and anecdotal view to a more systematic analysis, based on a large number of concrete examples.