Advancing smart public administration: Challenges and benefits of artificial intelligence

Abstract

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into public administration presents a fundamental transformation for global governance paradigms, offering significant potential alongside profound challenges. This paper provides a comprehensive theoretical review examining the multifaceted dimensions of AI adoption in the public administration sector. It analyzes the complex interplay between AI capabilities and established administrative theories, explores the uneven global landscape of AI implementation strategies and hurdles across diverse national contexts (including the US, EU, Asia, and developing nations), and assesses the impact of emerging technologies like Large Language Models (LLMs). Key challenges critical for responsible AI governance are investigated in detail: the need for transparency and Explainable AI (XAI) to address algorithmic opacity; methodologies for mitigating bias, particularly originating from training data; frameworks for establishing accountability for AI system failures; and the specific infrastructural, talent, and resource barriers hindering adoption in developing countries. The review highlights inherent tensions between AI-driven efficiency gains and core public values such as equity, accountability, and transparency. It underscores the necessity of robust human oversight, ethical guidelines, and context-aware strategies for trustworthy AI integration. Synthesizing these findings, the paper proposes foundational elements for an intelligent governance framework aimed at leveraging AI as a catalyst for modernization while upholding democratic principles. Ultimately, this review contributes a structured analysis of the critical factors shaping the present and future of AI in public administration, laying groundwork for achieving an ’intelligent state’ that harmonizes technological innovation with ethical and equitable governance.