digital&tech Articles
NEED MINI SPONSOR LOGO
How to make digital transformation happen in your department in 2024
As a government leader, you know how much effort and focus is needed to make digital transformation happen in the public sector. With demands for digital public services growing, and a need to ensure citizens remain at the forefront of development, taking a few moments to assess where you are on the journey can be…
Making artificial intelligence fit for a life inside government
Move fast and break things; reward risk-taking; scale fast. These three credos have allowed technology companies to upend our everyday lives in the past two decades, while producing fortunes for their owners. Civil servants are equally passionate about transforming society, but – given their responsibility to spend taxpayers’ money carefully and serve everyone in society…
Human rights and AI: interesting insights from Australia’s commission
The conundrum is one that many governments face: how do you make the most of technological advances in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) while protecting people’s rights? This applies to government as both a user of the tech and a regulator with a mandate to protect the public. Australia’s Human Rights Commission recently undertook…
EU presents plan for bloc-wide digital identity scheme
The European Commission revealed its plans for a digital identity framework for citizens, residents and businesses last week. The European Digital Identity Wallet is an app that EU citizens will be able to install on their smartphone to prove their identity, access services online, share digital documents, or show other details such as age, a…
Government of Canada launches updated digital strategy
The Government of Canada (GC) has launched the latest iteration of its digital strategy, which includes a continued effort to introduce secure digital identities for citizens. In the foreword to the Digital Operations Strategic Plan (DOSP) 2021–2024, which was released last week, chief information officer Marc Brouillard said that the COVID-19 pandemic has “significantly accelerated…
A closer look at Singapore’s AI governance framework: insights for other governments
As officials across the world work to establish AI ethics codes, Amit Roy Choudhury argues that Singapore’s system provides a model for others at a time when common global standards are emerging Governments around the world are rushing to formulate risk- and rules-based approaches to ensuring transparent and fair use of artificial intelligence (AI). Both…
UK’s digital leaders set out goals on data and skills
The UK’s new central digital teams are to accelerate their work on data management across government, career development within the profession and digital skills throughout the workforce, the civil service’s digital leaders explained at an event last Friday. To help speed up the digitisation of services, said Joanna Davinson – executive director of the recently-established…
Collaboration, education and legislation: how governments are tackling online harms
Governments across the world are racing to balance the needs of online freedom and openness with those of safety and security. At a recent GGF webinar, experts from Europe and Asia explored how policy-makers are responding to the challenge. Adam Branson reports “It’s not easy, but what is the alternative? We cannot throw up our…
digital&tech Events, Conferences & Summits - In-Person
digital&tech Webinars
digital&tech Research
Discover independent research reports, surveys and in-depth studies from Global Government Forum and knowledge partners, exploring the most important issues facing governments and the public sector. Our research provides practical insights and evidence-based recommendations for senior civil servants, policymakers and public sector leaders. Our reports combine exclusive survey data, expert analysis and interviews with government leaders from around the world to help public sector organisations improve performance, inform policy and deliver better outcomes for citizens.
Empowering Public Servants to Make Confident, Informed Decisions with Data and AI
Governments around the world are working hard to extract – and act upon – the insights held in their vast data stores, and to embrace AI and the promise it holds for innovation and transformation. At the same time, economic pressures and constrained budgets are compelling public servants to do more with fewer resources, while governments are called to respond quickly and effectively to complex challenges.
Against this backdrop, data and AI can help those working in government both to streamline their workflows and make fast, informed decisions. This in turn drives efficiency and can unlock productivity gains – and ultimately lead to improved performance and better services for citizens.
Global Government Forum surveyed over 600 civil servants worldwide to understand how data and AI are being used in government decision-making and where there are further challenges and opportunities.
Read this report for insight into how governments are using data and AI in decision-making today and the potential for the future; the major challenges to using data and AI in decision-making and how to overcome them; and how AI agents can be used in decision-making.
The report includes examples of data and AI in decision-making from countries including the UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada, Singapore, the US, and more.
(Published September 2025)
Making Government Work: Five Pillars of a Modern, Effective Civil Service
Around the world, governments are dealing with substantial challenges – from economic stagnation to the transition to net zero, military conflicts and cyber threats. Governments are also grappling with shifting geopolitics and the rise of populism – and all of these factors are set against the emergence of new technologies, including generative AI, which have the potential to fundamentally transform every aspect of society, but which also pose huge ethical, security and regulatory questions for the public sector.
The Making Government Work: Five pillars of a modern, effective civil service report was undertaken to help identify the key characteristics needed in a modern public service, with priorities ranging across leadership, digital service delivery, workforce development, cross-departmental integration, and citizen trust.
This report has been covered by publications around the world including the Financial Times, BBC Radio 4’s PM programme, Ottawa Citizen, Fed Manager, the Mandarin and the i newspaper.
(Published August 2024)
The Future of the Finance Ministry
From setting tax rates and financial regulations that create the ground rules for national economies, to allocating – and tracking – spending for public services, finance ministries occupy an essential role at the centre of government. Geopolitical crises have reinforced the importance of finance ministries, as they tackle both immediate shocks and long-term trends such as ageing populations, the digital transition, and the impact of moves to net zero.
Against this backdrop, this global research explores what the future finance ministry looks like and how to prepare for it.
Based on interviews with 10 senior leaders from finance ministries – led by John McCarthy, chief economist in Ireland’s Department of Finance, working with Ian Hall, editor, Global Government Finance, and Richard Johnstone, executive editor, Global Government Forum – the study identifies four key themes: the evolving role of the finance ministry in response to uncertainty; the shift to more flexible finance systems that support outcomes; digital transformation and the growth of AI; and the battle for talent and trust.
(Published May 2026)
Partnerships
Partner with us to connect with senior government leaders, policymakers, public sector professionals and the organisations shaping the future of AI in public services.
Our partnership opportunities are designed to facilitate meaningful collaboration, knowledge sharing and engagement across the public sector. Whether you are a government department, local authority, public body or industry organisation, we help you share expertise, showcase innovation and contribute to the responsible adoption of AI across public services.
Join the digital&tech Community
Be part of the growing community shaping the future of AI across government and the public sector.
Sign up to receive the latest AI news, research, events, webinars and practical insights from GGF and our partners. You'll be the first to hear about new reports, conferences, networking opportunities and thought leadership from government and industry experts.
Latest News
