AI that delivers: Practical foundations for government success
By Sarah Wray on 08/09/2026 | Updated on 08/09/2026
From detecting fraud and cutting time spent on administrative tasks to accelerating nuclear energy deployment and even monitoring crocodiles, governments are implementing AI in day-to-day operations. A new Global Government Forum study reveals what they are learning about making it work
Governments around the world are moving beyond AI experimentation to deployment – but turning promising pilots into lasting improvements to public services requires much more than getting the technology right.
This study, supported by SAS and Microsoft, examines what governments need to do in order to turn AI’s potential into tangible results. It also highlights growing ambition to move beyond using AI to improve existing processes towards more transformative approaches that rethink how governments operate and deliver services.
The research draws on interviews with senior public servants from Australia, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States, and examples featured span administrative support, compliance and fraud detection, health and citizen services, scientific and environmental applications, and the deployment of critical infrastructure.
For any queries or feedback, please contact Sarah Wray, research editor at Global Government Forum, on [email protected]
AI that delivers: Practical foundations for government success
About Sarah Wray
Sarah has over 15 years’ experience as a journalist with a specialism in the public sector and topics such as digitalisation and climate action. Sarah was formerly the editor of Cities Today and Smart Cities World, as well as a specialist video-based publication in the aerospace sector. She has also written for publications including Smart Cities Dive, Mobile Europe, Mobile World Live and Computer Weekly.
