Bringing everyone to the table: Tips for successfully incorporating AI into government agencies

Leadership, collaboration and change management are at the heart of successful AI implementation in government. This is what we heard during a recent panel hosted by the Partnership for Public Service’s AI Government Leadership Program. Alumni from the program—part of the Public Service Leadership Institute—shared lessons learned from implementing AI, including top priorities leaders should focus on to succeed.

Collaboration

To successfully design and implement AI in government, many people need a voice at the table. 

• Leaders must bring the entire workforce along with them.  

• AI governance is not limited to just tech teams; there are “hidden” experts throughout the workforce.  

• People from a broad array of backgrounds and expertise must come together to ensure long-lasting and thorough integration. 

• Collaborating with appropriate external parties working on a similar project might reveal solutions for shared issues. 

Change management

As any large change is incorporated, there is often predictable friction; the same trend certainly applies to bringing AI into an organization.  

• Know your audience. Some people may be more hesitant to incorporate AI into their work. This hesitation may be caused by various factors, but it is important to remember they are experts at their own job, so finding a way to connect with them about AI use is essential. 

• Break large initiatives into smaller projects that can build upon one another. It’s a much more effective way to implement a complex case. 

• Be transparent in your evaluation of an AI tool, especially if there was initial resistance in introducing it. Open lines of communication help with reassurance and momentum. 

• Widespread change is intimidating and difficult to track. Instead of a 10-year plan, consider the next 18 months. How will alignment to the mission be incorporated? What are anticipated pain points? 

Measuring success

When implementing AI, finding the right metrics to measure what you need is vital. In choosing them, consider the following points: 

• A one-and-done evaluation is unrealistic. Find the right metric to standardize reviews so progress can be measured. 

• Consulting a generative AI tool can help you brainstorm how to best measure success, but you still need a human who can eliminate unrealistic methods and narrow the output to what is feasible. 

• Regularly return to the identified metrics. Hard, quantitative feedback should be collected as you set up road maps and adapt to what the future looks like.  

• The desired outcome may shift as the project progresses. Ensure that the current state is still effective by continuously evaluating. 

Government leaders can create an effective and long-lasting AI program by clearly understanding the goals and feasibility of the project, closely examining the changes that have been implemented and by providing multiple voices the opportunity to share insights and feedback. The panelists encouraged attendees to use these strategies to integrate artificial intelligence within their respective agencies. AI can empower government leaders to fully invest themselves “in a career that’s rewarding,” he said. 

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