E-Government 3.0: An AI Model to Use for Enhanced Local Democracies

Abstract

While e-government (referring here to the first generation of e-government) was just the simple manner of delivering public services via electronic means, e-gov 2.0 refers to the use of social media and Web 2.0 technologies in government operations and public service delivery. However, the use of the term ‘e-government 2.0’ is becoming less common as the focus shifts towards broader digital transformation initiatives that may include AI technologies, among others, such as blockchain, virtual reality, and augmented reality. In this study, we present the relatively new concept of e-government 3.0, which is built upon the principles of e-government 2.0 but refers to the use of emerging technologies (e.g., artificial intelligence) to transform the delivery of public services and improve governance. The study objective is to explore the potential of e-government 3.0 to enhance citizen participation, improve public service delivery, and increase responsiveness and compliance of administrative systems in relation to citizens by integrating emerging technologies into government operations using as a background the evolution of e-government over time. The paper analyzes the challenges faced by municipalities in responding to citizen petitions, which are a core application of local democracies. The author starts by presenting an example of an e-petition system (as in use today) and analyses anonymized data of a text corpus of petitions directed to one of the Romania municipalities. He will propose an AI model able to deal faster and more accurately with the increased number of inputs, trying to promote it to municipalities who, for some reason, are still reluctant to implement AI in their operations. The conclusions will suggest that it may be more effective to focus on improving new algorithms rather than solely on ‘old’ technologies.

E-Government in Nigeria: Can Generative AI Serve as a Tool for Civic Engagement?

“…Generative AI technologies represent a paradigm shift in artificial intelligence, moving beyond simply processing and analysing existing data to creating entirely new content (Vrabie, 2023). These systems leverage advanced machine learning techniques, particularly large language models trained on vast datasets, to generate human-like outputs across various modalities like text, images, audio and code.…”

“…The ability to produce on-demand content that closely mimics human expression opens up transformative possibilities across sectors. In the civic sphere, generative AI could revolutionise how citizens interact with government, access information, and participate in decision-making processes through intuitive conversational interfaces and personalised content generation (Vrabie, 2023;Yang & Wang, 2023).…”

“…It may transform how citizens interact with government services, making them more accessible and user-friendly, and by way of providing a platform for clear and efficient communication, generative AI is capable of enhancing civic participation and engagement. It could also help in breaking down complex policy information into understandable language, thereby empowering citizens to make informed decisions (Vrabie, 2023).…”

Citizen-Centric Governance: Enhancing Citizen Engagement through Artificial Intelligence Tools

“…The concept of e-government is now evolving with the latest technological advances, aiming to streamline government services through the use of artificial intelligence, blockchain and the innovations they entail [5][6][7].…”

“…The academic literature analyzing public management emphasizes the crucial role that artificial intelligence can play in generating and sustaining good governance by harnessing technological advances and providing timely and efficient services to alleviate the lack of trust in public services [6]. Over the last few years, multiple studies have investigated the influence of the digital and technological process on the development of e-government, concluding that the focus should be on ensuring good transport infrastructure, improved services and adaptive leadership [8][9][10][11].…”