Smart Technology and the Emergence of Algorithmic Bureaucracy: Artificial Intelligence in <scp>UK</scp> Local Authorities

Vogl, Thomas M.; Seidelin, Cathrine; Ganesh, Bharath; Bright, Jonathan

doi:10.1111/puar.13286

Cited by 93 publications

(52 citation statements)

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“…With a specific focus on technology for responsible urban innovation, the paper concentrates on AI and its use as part of local government systems. The rationale behind this selection is as follows: (a) AI, a technology with an increasing number of applications in the urban context, is referred to as one of the most powerful technologies of our time with both positive and negative externalities for cities [31,32]; (b) AI is an integral part of a smart city structure that provides the required efficiencies and automation ability in the delivery of local infrastructures, services and amenities [33,34], and; (c) there is a trend among local government agencies to adopt AI for managing routine, complex and complicated urban issues, where the knowledge and the experience of the staff in the area of responsible innovation, in general, are fairly limited [35][36][37].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Responsible Urban Innovation with Local Government Artificial Intelligence (AI): A Conceptual Framework and Research Agenda

Yiğitcanlar

Corchado

Mehmood

et al. 2021

Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity

132

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The urbanization problems we face may be alleviated using innovative digital technology. However, employing these technologies entails the risk of creating new urban problems and/or intensifying the old ones instead of alleviating them. Hence, in a world with immense technological opportunities and at the same time enormous urbanization challenges, it is critical to adopt the principles of responsible urban innovation. These principles assure the delivery of the desired urban outcomes and futures. We contribute to the existing responsible urban innovation discourse by focusing on local government artificial intelligence (AI) systems, providing a literature and practice overview, and a conceptual framework. In this perspective paper, we advocate for the need for balancing the costs, benefits, risks and impacts of developing, adopting, deploying and managing local government AI systems in order to achieve responsible urban innovation. The statements made in this perspective paper are based on a thorough review of the literature, research, developments, trends and applications carefully selected and analyzed by an expert team of investigators. This study provides new insights, develops a conceptual framework and identifies prospective research questions by placing local government AI systems under the microscope through the lens of responsible urban innovation. The presented overview and framework, along with the identified issues and research agenda, offer scholars prospective lines of research and development; where the outcomes of these future studies will help urban policymakers, managers and planners to better understand the crucial role played by local government AI systems in ensuring the achievement of responsible outcomes.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Responsible Urban Innovation with Local Government Artificial Intelligence (AI): A Conceptual Framework and Research Agenda

Yiğitcanlar

Corchado

Mehmood

et al. 2021

Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity

132

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“…Despite the increasing prevalence of algorithmic tools in a public sector context (Andrews, 2019;Vydra and Klievink, 2019;Kuziemski and Misuraca, 2020;Vogl et al, 2020), little research to date has explored how they are used by SLBs in practice.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

From satisficing to artificing: The evolution of administrative decision-making in the age of the algorithm

Snow¹

2021

Data & Policy

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Algorithmic decision tools (ADTs) are being introduced into public sector organizations to support more accurate and consistent decision-making. Whether they succeed turns, in large part, on how administrators use these tools. This is one of the first empirical studies to explore how ADTs are being used by Street Level Bureaucrats (SLBs). The author develops an original conceptual framework and uses in-depth interviews to explore whether SLBs are ignoring ADTs (algorithm aversion); deferring to ADTs (automation bias); or using ADTs together with their own judgment (an approach the author calls “artificing”). Interviews reveal that artificing is the most common use-type, followed by aversion, while deference is rare. Five conditions appear to influence how practitioners use ADTs: (a) understanding of the tool (b) perception of human judgment (c) seeing value in the tool (d) being offered opportunities to modify the tool (e) alignment of tool with expectations.

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“…Since then, similar trials have rapidly emerged across England. Although Vogl et al note that virtual assistants cannot replace the need for hands-on human care for many tasks [ 17 ], their use is usually framed around the need to save money and combat current and future care staff shortages, implying some level of substitution for human care workers—and particularly for the growing number of home care visits [ 16 ]; Hampshire County Council claimed savings of at least GBP 66,300 in its trial for 50 users [ 15 ]. The need to reduce human–human contact through the use of technologies during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic seems to have provided a further strong catalyst for the use of devices such as smart speakers and tablets; in September 2020, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock, announced 11,000 iPads to enable care home residents to communicate with family members while avoiding “unnecessary” in-person visits [ 18 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Alexafication of Adult Social Care: Virtual Assistants and the Changing Role of Local Government in England

Wright

2021

IJERPH

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Voice controlled virtual assistants, delivered via consumer devices such as smart speakers and tablets, are being trialled by local authorities across England as a convenient and low-cost supplement or potential alternative to “traditional” telecare. Few papers have explored this increasingly widespread phenomenon, despite its growing importance. This article looks at choices by some local authorities to trial Alexa, within the context of the ongoing care crisis in England, with councils facing depleted funds, a lack of expert guidance on care technologies, and an increasingly complex and fragmented care technology marketplace. It draws on interviews with managers from eight English local authorities involved in the commissioning and trialling of technologies for adult social care to examine how and why virtual assistants are being implemented, and what implications their use might hold for care. Scaling up the application of such technologies could shift the role of local authorities towards one of an app developer and data broker, while generating considerable risks of reliance on the precarious technological infrastructure of global corporations that may have little interest in or sensitivity towards local care concerns. The findings suggest an urgent need for a national social care technology strategy and increased support for local authorities.

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Smart Technology and the Emergence of Algorithmic Bureaucracy: Artificial Intelligence in UK Local Authorities

Abstract: She studies datarelated work practices in multi-stakeholder environments and explores how data may become a design medium.

Cited by 93 publications

References 50 publications

Responsible Urban Innovation with Local Government Artificial Intelligence (AI): A Conceptual Framework and Research Agenda

Responsible Urban Innovation with Local Government Artificial Intelligence (AI): A Conceptual Framework and Research Agenda

From satisficing to artificing: The evolution of administrative decision-making in the age of the algorithm

The Alexafication of Adult Social Care: Virtual Assistants and the Changing Role of Local Government in England

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