When the AI becomes the intermediary, what does that mean for how we structure and produce information? Recently Pia Andrews shared some thoughts about moving from SEO to AIO – “But people are increasingly using AI tools (directly or indirectly) to search for information and advice, and are increasingly finding what they think they are… Continue reading SEO to AIO: an evolutionary or a revolutionary shift for the public sector?
Category: Digital
Mental models for GenAI
Generative AI shows many of the hallmarks of being what’s known as a general purpose technology – something that will reshape things across our society and our economy. As a public servant with a background in innovation, I’m keen to make sure those of us in the public sector understand this technology as much as… Continue reading Mental models for GenAI
Gen AI democratises AI: That’s a big deal
Why should we care so much about generative AI as opposed to the other forms of AI that have been around for some time? Because generative AI represents a massive phase shift, a new development in democratisation of a powerful technology, bringing capabilities to a vastly bigger audience than before. It might feel like we’re… Continue reading Gen AI democratises AI: That’s a big deal
Will generative AI disadvantage new starters?
How will newer entrants to the public service learn and professionally develop in a world of generative AI? In playing with ChatGPT and now some of the GPT agents, some interesting questions arise about what’s going to happen to a lot of the work currently done. While I’m not going to say all our jobs… Continue reading Will generative AI disadvantage new starters?
Why generative AI feels significant
If government is an information industry, what might generative AI tools mean for it? Playing with ChatGPT Over the past few weeks I, like many many others, have been playing with Open AI’s ChatGPT. Much of this has been playful such as: But then with some public servant friends, I started to play with it… Continue reading Why generative AI feels significant
Privacy – an indefensible privilege?
In my experience, privacy is very much a privilege. Privacy is there until it is not – whether by chance, by choice, or by coincidence. Whether the gaze that sees us is that of the media (social or otherwise), the state, or even just circumstance, privacy can be abruptly withdrawn. For me this realisation came… Continue reading Privacy – an indefensible privilege?
Digital Nuance
Is there/can there be room for nuance in digital systems? In my experience as a public servant, there’s often a lot of attention paid to how the private sector needs certainty. Of course the flipside of that, which I don’t think is as accepted or as recognised, is that the public sector often likes/requires flexibility.… Continue reading Digital Nuance
Musings on the Digital Revolution (or eleven thoughts on what digital transformation might mean for the public service) – pt 4
(Pt 3 can be found here.) 10. Digital allows for, and legitimises, different information preferences “The medium is the message.” Digital allows information to be presented and represented in a huge variety of ways. Information production is experiencing exponential rates of growth. YouTube and Instagram are indicators of the appetite for information in visual form.… Continue reading Musings on the Digital Revolution (or eleven thoughts on what digital transformation might mean for the public service) – pt 4
Musings on the Digital Revolution (or eleven thoughts on what digital transformation might mean for the public service) – pt 3
(Part 2 can be found here) 7. Digital innovation begets more digital innovation, but who approved it? Innovation is an evolving practice. It is an exponential technology – it builds upon what has gone before. Each wave allows for new options. Digital innovation is different to industrial innovation. It is a faster, more iterative practice.… Continue reading Musings on the Digital Revolution (or eleven thoughts on what digital transformation might mean for the public service) – pt 3
Musings on the Digital Revolution (or eleven thoughts on what digital transformation might mean for the public service) – pt 2
(Part 2 – Part 1 can be found here.) 4. Digital is both convergent and fragmented Siloed bureaucracy is ill-suited to cross-cutting issues that are experienced differently by fragmenting identities. The digital world is one of convergence – issues are no longer easily categorised or separated, and hard divides become blurred. Services/products, users/providers, businesses/citizens –… Continue reading Musings on the Digital Revolution (or eleven thoughts on what digital transformation might mean for the public service) – pt 2