Subproject 2: the role of automation in enhancing efficiency in public administrative procedures

The use of new technologies in administrative procedures has so far proven its potential. Artificial Intelligence has the capacity to process large quantities of data efficiently and carry out rule-based and repetitive administrative tasks. This would enable the public administration to become increasingly cost efficient and flexible in the provision of its services.

Moreover, the use of machine learning tools within public administration would depend on bureaucratic structures and procedural frameworks. Generally, the interpretation of Article 20 German Basic Law remains largely at the discretion of the legislator as to the question of the design of any given administrative procedure. The German constitution assigns a certain level of discretion to public administration in the design of procedural frameworks.

In addition, the use of AI-enabled tools would in principle increase the individual level of legal protection and the socio-economic status of citizens through simplified and tailor-made public services. In this context however, the potential consequences associated with erroneous input data fed to AI -enabled tools as well as lack of control over output data thereof, cannot be underestimated. As a result, it is important to strike a balance between the technical advantages of utilising AI-enabled tools in public administration, respectively to take notice of risks associated with automation.