Governments are using artificial intelligence (AI) to tackle problems they once couldn't solve. In Brazil, satellite imagery analysis is used to detect unregistered pools and illegal constructions, helping to resolve $140 billion in tax disputes. In Argentina, the 'Prometea' system analyzes complete court cases to draft judicial resolutions in minutes, a task that previously took officials days. In the Netherlands, AI helps citizens handle entire procedures from start to finish. The future is already here, and governments must adapt or be left behind.
According to the OECD, 70% of countries use AI to improve internal government processes, but only 33% have applied it to policy design and implementation. Despite its growing use, AI has not yet had a transformative impact on the public sector. In an era of digital disruption and declining public trust, technology has become essential for increasing productivity and resilience.
Successful AI implementations worldwide are impressive. In Singapore, an AI-powered tax chatbot handled 70,000 inquiries in a year, saving taxpayers 11,666 hours. Austria's tax authority has used AI since 2014, and in 2023 it analyzed 6.5 million cases, recovering 185 million euros in taxes that would otherwise have gone undetected.
However, there is a downside. In France, AI analyzed satellite photos and tax declarations, leading to errors. An algorithm accused 26,000 families of fraud in child benefits, causing the government to collapse and devastating lives. This proves that AI does not fix what is broken; it amplifies it. It is crucial not just to implement technology, but to do so responsibly and fairly.
