The Algorithmic Public Servant: Reimagining Government in the Age of AI

Prof. Marek Kowalkiewicz, Professor and Chair in Digital Economy at Centre for Future Enterprise, QUT Business School, opens with a reflection on how AI systems are evolving at breakneck speed, rapidly surpassing human performance benchmarks in areas such as image recognition and natural language processing. He argues that rather than artificial intelligence, what we are dealing with is a form of alien intelligence. That is, systems that behave in ways unlike humans and often in ways we do not anticipate. Through examples such as an AI camera mistaking a referee’s bald head for a football, or a large language model cheating at chess by editing files to win, Marek illustrates the unpredictable nature of AI behaviour and the risks of deploying systems without proper oversight. ADAPT data shows that 61% of organisations are exploring or piloting generative AI, with strong interest but cautious adoption due to fragmented governance and limited…