How to employ artificial intelligence in public administration? Analysis and discussion of the Ibero American charter on artificial intelligence in civil service

Abstract

[EN] The exponential growth in the uses of Artificial Intelligence (AI) shows dramatic and long-lasting consequences on social reality in our days. Governments see themselves confronted with the need to supervise and regulate the difficult transition toward a “fourth industrial revolution”, as some experts already describe such a development. Public regulation is expected to address diverse areas. In the first place, the legal and ethical dilemmas around the functioning and programming of AI must be determined and resolved—as far as possible. Secondly, the uses of AI as a tool for public decision-making have to be explored and operationalized. Finally, citizens’ rights must be guaranteed against new and unexpected threats that result from these new technologies. In the present article, we propose to analyse and discuss the development and reception of AI by Latin American governments, considering in particular the recently adopted Ibero American Charter on Artificial Intelligence in Civil Service.