IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/ipt/iptwpa/jrc139825.html
   My bibliography  Save this paper

The potential of generative AI for the public sector: current use, key questions and policy considerations

Author

Listed:

Abstract

The advent of generative AI presentes unprecedents opportunities and challenges within the public sector, calling for a detailed examination of its influence to harness its capabilities while safeguarding fundamental European values. This policy brief aims to examine the current usage, possible benefits, challenges and future prospects for the use of generative AI in the public sector. It analyses the phenomenon from three perspective. At individual level, our analysis of the current landscape reveals that 30% of public managers are using online generative AI technologies, with anticipation of increased adoption, as evidenced by an additional 44% planning to integrate these tools in the near future. At organisational level, public administrations are actively exploring the creation of in-house generative AI applications, with approximately 60 use cases currently identified across Europe. Moreover, still at organisationa level, some public administrations are developing guideline sto suppoort civil servants in using generative AI. Finally, at national level, there is a burgeoning effort to craft necessary policy frameworks and regulatory mechanisms to guide the ethical and effective use of generative AI. Some member states are also considering the development of national generative AI models to better support official national lan-guages, particularly those less represented. Despite these advancements, the discourse surrounding generative AI in the public sector is punctuated by numerous unresolved questions, particularly regarding long-term implications, governance, and the balance between innovation and privacy. As the landscape continuously evolves, an urgent need for continuous evaluation and policy adaptation emerges. Addressing these open inquiries will be critical in ensuring that the integration of generative AI into public services not only boosts efficiency and effectiveness but also adheres to the high standards of ethics and transparency expected within European public institutions.

Suggested Citation

  • TANGI Luca & COMBETTO Marco & HUPONT TORRES Isabelle & FARRELL Eimear & SCHADE Sven, 2024. "The potential of generative AI for the public sector: current use, key questions and policy considerations," JRC Research Reports JRC139825, Joint Research Centre.
    • Handle: RePEc:ipt:iptwpa:jrc139825
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC139825
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ajay Bandi & Pydi Venkata Satya Ramesh Adapa & Yudu Eswar Vinay Pratap Kumar Kuchi, 2023. "The Power of Generative AI: A Review of Requirements, Models, Input–Output Formats, Evaluation Metrics, and Challenges," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-60, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sarah V. Bentley, 2025. "Knowing you know nothing in the age of generative AI," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-7, December.
    2. Safa Jameel Al-Kamil & Róbert Szabolcsi, 2024. "Enhancing Mobile Robot Navigation: Optimization of Trajectories through Machine Learning Techniques for Improved Path Planning Efficiency," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-21, June.
    3. Rezazadeh, Arash & Kohns, Marco & Bohnsack, René & António, Nuno & Rita, Paulo, 2025. "Generative AI for growth hacking: How startups use generative AI in their growth strategies," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    4. Rafner, Janet & Guloy, Ryan Q & Wen, Eden & Chiodo, Catherine & Sherson, Jacob Friis, 2025. "From Interaction to Collaboration: How Hybrid Intelligence Enhances Chatbot Feedback," OSF Preprints jhefx_v1, Center for Open Science.
    5. Jiaqi Li & Qinchuan Liu, 2025. "Application of Generative Artificial Intelligence AIGC Technology Under Neural Network Algorithm in Game Character Art Design," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 16(1), pages 4652-4683, March.
    6. Mousavi, Rashin & Mousavi, Arash & Mousavi, Yashar & Tavasoli, Mahsa & Arab, Aliasghar & Kucukdemiral, Ibrahim Beklan & Alfi, Alireza & Fekih, Afef, 2025. "Revolutionizing solar energy resources: The central role of generative AI in elevating system sustainability and efficiency," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 382(C).
    7. Nikša Alfirević & Daniela Garbin Praničević & Mirela Mabić, 2024. "Custom-Trained Large Language Models as Open Educational Resources: An Exploratory Research of a Business Management Educational Chatbot in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-18, June.
    8. Shaotong Qi & Yubo Cheng & Zhiyuan Li & Jiaxin Wang & Huaiyi Li & Chunwei Zhang, 2024. "Advanced Deep Learning Techniques for Battery Thermal Management in New Energy Vehicles," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-38, August.
    9. Umar, Zaghum & Hadad, Elroi & Phiri, Andrew & Teplova, Tamara, 2025. "Dynamics of asymmetric connectedness among magnificent seven technology giants: Insights from QVAR analysis," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    10. Hyun Yong Ahn, 2024. "AI-Powered E-Learning for Lifelong Learners: Impact on Performance and Knowledge Application," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-20, October.
    11. Theodora Sanida & Maria Vasiliki Sanida & Argyrios Sideris & Minas Dasygenis, 2024. "Enhancing Pulmonary Diagnosis in Chest X-rays through Generative AI Techniques," J, MDPI, vol. 7(3), pages 1-17, August.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:ipt:iptwpa:jrc139825. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Publication Officer (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/ipjrces.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.