Latvia: Public Sector dimension of AI Strategy

Introduction

This page reports a synthesis of the main elements that characterise the national AI strategy with a specific focus on the public sector. It extracts the information related to a single country from a comparative analysis done by the AI Watch team and reported in full in the science for policy report “AI Watch. European Landscape on the Use of Artificial Intelligence by the Public Sector”.

Main highlights

Artificial Intelligence can realize a variety of e-Government objectives
Latvian public sector can be a leader in implementing AI solutions, by focusing on adopting rather than developing new solutions
Continuing open data initiatives for the development of public sector AI
Improve the awareness of AI and the skillset to develop and use AI in the public sector
Public service providers should have funding available for the testing of AI
Include AI-related metrics in e-Government performance matrix for assess performance

Strategy analysis

Learning by doing	Pilot projects
Stimulating awareness and knowledge sharing	Building an international community
Ethical and legal framework	Development of ethical frameworks Reform of data sharing laws
Improving data access and quality	Improving data quality Improving data access Access to private sector data
Funding and procurement	Funding for AI projects Stimulation of GovTech startups
Improving internal capacity	Training on AI

Comment

The strategy lists a series of pilot projects developed in the public sector. Among them a focus was on virtual assistants that are promising, but challenging to train and at the same time ensure adherence to continuously evolving regulatory frameworks.

On data access and quality the strategy highlights how data should be open by default, taking into account personal data protections.

On trainings, the strategy highlights that AI skills should not only be acquired by ICT specialists, but by a wider range of users and managers. Therefore, actions will be undertaken in order to raise the level of understanding of AI as well as the development of AI related skillsets.

Cooperation with the public and the private sector is considered crucial in implementing AI solutions.

Finally, it is promoted a separate funding programme for public service providers to test new AI solutions.

General Information

Title

Informatīvais ziņojums “Par mākslīgā intelekta risinājumu attīstību”

Data of release

Feb 2020

Specific actions to public sector

ACTION POINT 3:: Use of AI in the public sector.

AI-inclusive solutions must be prioritised in public administration development processes. Line ministries need to assess the integration of automation and AI systems into their processes, including through the maintenance budget of existing information systems