Session
Organizer 1: Rodrigo Moreschi, Meridian International Center
Organizer 2: Katherine Boyce, Meridian International Center
Organizer 3: Puru Trivedi, Meridian International Center
Speaker 1: Sarim Aziz, Director for Public Policy for South and Central Asia, Meta
Speaker 2: Lucia Russo, Economist and Policy Analyst, OECD Digital Economy Policy Division
Speaker 3: Pellerin Matis, VP, Global Government Affairs, Oracle, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Brandon Soloski, Senior Director – Center for Corporate Diplomacy
Rodrigo Moreschi, Private Sector, Intergovernmental Organization
Rodrigo Moreschi, Private Sector, Intergovernmental Organization
Theater
Duration (minutes): 60
Format description: Our activity benefits from a layout that encourages interaction and engagement while at the same time allowing a platform for the speakers to conduct an immersive panel. The classroom-style arrangement will allow for these facets as it helps facilitate learning, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas, all of which are central to our activity's goals. Our presentation and use of "mentimeter" will also benefit through this layout as audience members (both in-person and virtually) will be able to follow along easier through the classroom-style. The duration of the session is tailored to strike a balance between depth and attention span. Too short, and we risk not delving into topics sufficiently; too long, and participants may become fatigued, diminishing the quality of engagement. Our chosen duration allows for meaningful exploration of concepts while respecting the limitations of human focus.
• Can Artificial Intelligence, in the right applications, help to repair distrust in government? • How can AI reshape frustrating processes often linked with distrust of government and mitigate these touchpoints to build faith towards ethical, fair and trustworthy AI solutions? • What are the key policy frameworks needed to support the integration of AI in government? • What ethical principles should guide the development and deployment of AI technologies in government? • Will we see technology innovation diminish or flourish under a new wave of populism and protectionism, and violence?
What will participants gain from attending this session? This Meridian-led workshop will offer a comprehensive overview of existing policy and regulatory frameworks aimed to guide the development and implementation of ethical, fair and trustworthy applications of AI in government and foster a discussion on how these efforts could help address the significant downtick of trust in government worldwide. Our panel will bring together different perspectives on the considerations when utilizing AI in government. We will also seek to highlight success stories to give examples of responsible use of AI to inspire attendees to consider the applications of this innovation to bolster trust in government. Lastly, this panel will serve as a networking opportunity for attendees to explore our panel topic with like-minded individuals.
Description:
Potholes, navigating taxes, long-winded stops fix licensing for vehicles…often the most frequent touchpoints with governments for the everyday person are some of the most frustrating parts of their life. These examples only represent a microcosm of what we have been watching worldwide as faith and trust in government erodes and an acceleration of populism fills the void. According to the Edelman Trust Barometer which surveys over 32,000+ respondents from 28 countries at a rate of 1,150 respondents per country, 66% of global respondents believe their country’s governments are purposely trying to mislead people. To compound this picture, only 36 % of respondents believe government is a unifying force in society. As constituents withdraw their confidence in government, what do they look to? Business has taken up the mantle. Indeed, after the pandemic and infodemic of the past four years post-COVID, the private sector, perhaps in part due to great societal innovations like vaccines and the monumental launch of artificial intelligence, has risen as the most trusted sector. Business can’t rebuild the societal disconnect by itself however… How do we restore goodwill? Are we losing the social contract that government guarantees? Can AI, in the right applications, make a difference in this arena? Our panel of private sector leaders, U.S. government officials, and multilateral representatives will discuss these questions and consider how artificial intelligence can be used to engage public private partnerships to rebuild trust, improve government services to its citizens and build responsible digital governance.
Panelists will provide their insights on the artificial intelligence development and deployment necessary to revitalize government trust. Audience members will learn about the many applications of artificial intelligence and how it can be used to better streamline government processes in taxes, healthcare, traffic flow, etc. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the potential of AI in strengthening trust in our institutions. Participants may also have the chance to generate policy recommendations that address the unique challenges faced by governments in deploying AI-driven solutions to streamline frustrating processes and rebuild trust with constituents.
Hybrid Format: The session itself will be 60 minutes in total. The first 10 will consist of a brief presentation for both the in-person and virtual audience to set the stage for the conversation. The next 35 minutes will be a 4-person (including moderator) panel discussion. There will be 15 minutes at the end for questions from both the virtual and in-person audience. Throughout the panel, we will also use the interactive polling software “Mentimeter” to further increase audience engagement with a selection of prompts for the audience to answer. Results will be shown live as the discussion progresses. On-site participants will be encouraged to connect after the program to exchange business cards and participate in some sideline conversations. Following the session, the moderator will also encourage participants to make use of the IGF website and social media channels to document their experience during the panel and share any further comments.
Report
Artificial intelligence is emerging as a key driver in transforming government operations and addressing citizen frustrations with slow, outdated systems. By automating and optimizing services such as tax inquiries, healthcare delivery, and passport renewals, AI reduces admin delays, improves accuracy, and enhances accessibility
A balance between openness and security is crucial. Open-source models enable collaborative innovation, while data sovereignty ensures privacy, compliance, and public trust. By prioritizing both accessibility and control, governments can responsibly adopt AI solutions that align with their unique societal goals.
Global collaboration and harmonized regulations are critical to ensuring responsible AI development and adoption. The absence of aligned regulatory frameworks can lead to fragmentation, where countries adopt divergent standards that increase compliance costs and slow innovation
Governments must prioritize upgrading infrastructure and integrating AI solutions with high-quality, secure data. Policy leaders should collaborate with the private sector to pilot AI-powered projects that directly address citizen frustrations and showcase tangible improvements in public service delivery.
Private sector leaders must proactively develop AI solutions that address real-world challenges—such as outdated systems in healthcare, agriculture, and justice—while ensuring transparency and ethical use. By fostering public-private partnerships, investing in open-source tools, and offering expertise in AI deployment, businesses can help governments scale innovation and rebuild societal trust.
Artificial intelligence is a priority for both citizens and policymakers as they navigate an evolving technological landscape. AI is emerging as a transformative tool for governments, addressing citizen frustrations with outdated systems and slow processes. By automating services such as tax inquiries, healthcare delivery, and passport renewals, AI enhances efficiency, reduces delays, and improves accessibility. However, successful implementation requires a careful balance of innovation, security, and global collaboration. Meridian convened a panel of private sector leaders and AI experts to delve into one of the central questions defining responsible AI use: Can Artificial Intelligence, in the right applications, help to repair distrust in government?
The panel discussion began with a focus on the trust deficit in governments, as highlighted by the panel moderator Mr. Brandon Soloski, Senior Director of the Center for Corporate Diplomacy at the Meridian International Center. Trust in governments remains low, according to the Edelman Trust Barometer, 66% of global respondents believe that governments intentionally mislead citizens. Mr. Soloski emphasized the private sector’s growing role in rebuilding trust, as reflected in the Barometer, which ranks the private sector as the most trusted institution globally. Private sector leaders must proactively develop AI solutions that address real-world challenges—such as outdated systems in healthcare, agriculture, and justice—while ensuring transparency and ethical use. By fostering public-private partnerships, investing in open-source tools, and offering expertise in AI deployment, businesses can help governments scale innovation and rebuild societal trust.
A central component of rebuilding trust in government, panelists highlighted AI’s transformative role in enhancing public sector efficiency. Examples of AI applications included automating tax inquiries, optimizing public expenditure, and modernizing healthcare systems to improve patient outcomes. Mr. Sarim Aziz, Director for Public Policy for South and Central Asia from Meta emphasized the importance of open-source AI for accelerating innovation and increasing accessibility, particularly for governments and startups. He also posited that democratic access to data and AI models were identified as a critical factor in fostering equitable advancements across sectors, especially in underserved regions. Mr. Matis Pellerin, Vice President for Global Government Affairs at Oracle also discussed the importance of sovereign AI systems, which enable governments to secure and control their data. He provided examples such as Oracle’s sovereign cloud infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, showcasing how data sovereignty can bolster trust and security. Leveraging AI to break down data silos within governments was another key theme, as this integration enhances decision-making and improves public service delivery.
Without regulatory frameworks and harmonization, it is difficult to roll-out the responsible deployment of AI. Regulatory inconsistencies across borders increase costs and complicate compliance for enterprises. Ms. Lucia Russo, Economist and Policy Analyst in the OECD Digital Economy Policy Division, emphasized the need for harmonized, risk-based regulatory frameworks, aligning with OECD’s guidelines and G7 initiatives. She highlighted the OECD’s Incident Reporting Framework, which identifies risks and adapts regulations proactively to mitigate them. Mr. Aziz also added that many countries in the Asia-Pacific region are adopting principles-based regulatory approaches, fostering collaboration over regulation. Regulatory harmonization is vital for creating a conducive environment for AI innovation while avoiding fragmentation.
The session also delved into public-private partnerships (PPPs) as a cornerstone for AI innovation in governance. While regulatory harmonization provides a framework for responsible AI, public-private partnerships enable practical implementation of these technologies in governance. Collaborative success stories demonstrated how the private sector helps scale AI solutions in healthcare and judicial systems. Mr. Aziz highlighted the role of startups and the private sector in driving innovation and addressing government-specific needs. These partnerships not only accelerate the development of AI-driven technological solutions but also facilitate knowledge transfer and capacity building within governments. Mr. Pellerin provided additional examples of AI applications in sectors like agriculture, justice, and social welfare, underscoring the potential for AI to revolutionize public services.
Despite these opportunities, several challenges and risks remain. Public misunderstandings about AI’s capabilities and limitations may hinder adoption and contribute to mistrust. Data privacy regulations, while crucial for protecting individuals, often impede AI’s efficiency and innovation potential in government services. Additionally, fragmented regulatory frameworks pose operational challenges for global enterprises. Addressing these issues requires coordinated efforts from governments, private entities, and international organizations.
To overcome these challenges and harness AI responsibly, several action items were identified. Educating governments on the benefits of open-source AI is crucial for innovation and accessibility. Public-private partnerships should be fostered to co-develop AI solutions tailored to government needs. Modernizing public services with AI platforms can significantly improve efficiency in healthcare delivery and emergency response systems. Artificial intelligence has a great capacity to serve and streamline everyday interactions with governments, and AI could mitigate this strained relationship and help restore public trust in the public sector.