A lack of trust in AI among public sector workers could be hindering adoption and digital transformation, the Ada Lovelace Institute says.

A briefing paper published by the Institute revealed that public sector appetite for AI is being hampered by a lack of trust in the technology, which could hold back its adoption and uptake.

“The success and acceptance of AI tools depends on their interaction with existing social systems, values, and trust,” the report found, showing that public sector workers are hesitant about the rapid adoption of AI.

AI is ‘sociotechnical’ according to the report, in that it is both influenced by and influences social contexts with potential ripple effects. Public sector workers seem apprehensive about the deployment of AI across a wide birth of applications when they cannot see direct reasons for its use.

The research, which was comprised of around 30 different reports and research publications, found that there is a lack of clear terminology about AI, which is inhibiting a proper understanding of its effective use.

Shared definitions for AI are needed, as well as a better understanding of where AI is being deployed across government and public services.

The public sector’s understanding of its own AI usage is severely lacking, which can hinder accountability and transparency, both crucial aspects of responsible AI implementation.

Public sector servants also have issues around the lack of evidence surrounding the effectiveness of AI tools.

Evaluating AI interventions in context is crucial in building trust  for its needed use in the public sector, especially considering the sensitive data public servants often work with.

AI systems are only as good as the data they rely on – the research revealed that those using AI must mitigate limitation inn data collection in order to reach underrepresented groups.

The report seems to advice that the government treads carefully when implementing AI across the public sector, as successful implementation will require the public license.

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“Moving out of step with public comfort can undermine the ability for the public sector to effectively use AI,” the report said.

To mitigate public backlash, mitigating data bias and increasing transparency can be vital.

Further, procurement of AI systems needs to be more transparent to avoid vendor lock in. Public sector procurers need assistance and guidance in these matters to ensure they do not waste funds and enter beneficial deals when acquiring AI technologies.

Gaps in AI governance seem to also be hindering public sector AI adoption, as servants and procurers often lack the confidence to acquire and use the tools.

The research paper urges the government to see AI as an opportunity to “reimagine” the public sector, not just automate it.

“Public sector leaders should see the rollout of AI as an opportunity to reimagine the state, rather than focusing solely on immediate efficiency gains or automating the status quo,” the paper said.