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Harnessing AI for social good: How local governments can support social value delivery in the age of artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming an essential part of our everyday lives, changing the way we work, communicate, and interact with technology.
While (generative) AI offers incredible opportunities, it also presents certain challenges. When used thoughtfully, AI has the potential to significantly enhance social value – the positive benefits delivered to communities through local government actions.
The impact of AI on local government and social value
AI is already woven into many aspects of life, from customer service chatbots to algorithms that help make complex decisions.
For local governments, AI presents an opportunity to provide services more efficiently and improve decision-making. However, the rapid pace of AI integration can disrupt traditional job roles, potentially increasing economic inequality if not carefully managed. It is important to strike a balance, ensuring that technology is used to uplift all community members.
Social value is a key concept here. It refers to the wider benefits created by government activities, such as improving public health, enhancing education, or boosting local economies. By utilising AI, local authorities can unlock new ways to measure and enhance this value – whether through more informed decisions, better resource allocation, or creating new opportunities for residents.
Ethical considerations and bias in AI
While AI can process vast amounts of data and spot patterns that humans might miss, it cannot replace human judgement, particularly in decisions that directly impact people's lives.
Understanding local context and navigating ethical grey areas requires more than data – it requires human insight. AI can certainly offer valuable insights, but the final decision must always involve human oversight.
In assessing social value, stakeholders are key. They are the ones who truly understand what matters most to their communities, something that no algorithm can fully grasp. Local authority staff bring the empathy, cultural awareness, and ethical considerations that AI simply lacks.
A thoughtful balance between AI’s capabilities and human insight is essential for decisions that genuinely serve the community.
The role of human oversight
While AI can process vast amounts of data and spot patterns that humans might miss, it is important to remember that it cannot replace human judgement.
Decisions that affect people’s lives need a human touch, particularly when it comes to understanding local context or navigating ethical grey areas. AI can offer insights, but the final decision should always involve human oversight.
Human interaction plays an irreplaceable role in assessing social value. Local authority staff bring empathy, cultural understanding, and ethical judgement – qualities that AI simply doesn’t possess. A balanced approach, combining AI’s strengths with human insight, is key to making decisions that truly serve communities.
Improving AI with credible social value data
The accuracy of AI outputs depends heavily on the quality of the data it is trained on.
For local governments to use AI effectively in social value assessments, they must ensure the data is reliable, comprehensive, and current. Tools like the Social Value Engine can be invaluable in providing access to curated datasets that enhance the relevance of AI-driven insights.
By feeding AI systems with credible social value data, local authorities can make more informed decisions. For example, AI can help predict the long-term impact of social programmes, enabling better resource planning. Updating and refining these data sources ensures that AI stays accurate and useful as time goes on.
Balancing AI with privacy and data ownership
As AI plays a larger role in local governance, it is important to carefully consider how data privacy and ownership are managed.
AI systems rely on large volumes of data to function, but this raises important questions about how that data is collected, stored, and used. Local authorities must develop clear policies around data ownership, ensuring they retain control over sensitive information and comply with regulations such as GDPR.
Residents should be informed about how their data is being used and how AI systems influence decision-making processes. By being open and transparent, local governments can build trust and foster a more collaborative relationship with the communities they serve.
The future of AI in local governance
AI’s role in local governance is likely to grow, and local authorities must be ready to adapt.
To maximise its benefits, they must approach AI thoughtfully, with a focus on ethics, fairness, and social impact. AI should not be viewed as a tool that, when used responsibly, can help improve the well-being of all residents.
By striking the right balance between technology and human oversight, local governments can harness AI’s potential to enhance social value. In doing so, they can ensure that technological advancements contribute to stronger, more inclusive communities.
End note: This blog provides a preview of a more detailed guide on (Generative) AI and social value, which will be available on the Social Value Engine website in the coming months. The full guide will explore the ethical considerations, practical applications, and the future of AI in local governance
Maddie Kortenaar is Marketing Director at Social Value Engine. Social Value Engine is sponsoring the Social Value Champion of the Year category at the IED Annual Awards 2024. The awards follow the IED Annual Conference 2024 on 6th November. Book your place for the conference and awards dinner here.