This provides detailed compilation of the current status of AI technology utilization in local governments and future support directions based on the overview of the Working Group Report on AI Use in Local Governments published by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
Current Status and Background of AI Implementation
With deepening resource constraints including labor shortages in local governments under population decline, initiatives to promote AI utilization for improving local government operational efficiency have become important challenges from the perspective of providing administrative services in a sustainable manner.
As of end-2024, approximately 40% of local governments responded that they have "implemented," are "conducting demonstration experiments," or are "considering implementation (with plans for implementation)" for generative AI, revealing challenges in generative AI implementation and operation including "human resource shortages" and "accuracy concerns."
Basic Approach and Usage Methods
Generative AI enables work requiring knowledge and skills, and is expected to dramatically improve work quality and speed along with business substitution through digital technology, achieving dramatic operational efficiency improvements.
Usage requires careful practice with sufficient attention to risks such as errors contained in generative AI output results. Beyond common departmental usage, it aims to improve generative AI output accuracy and advance departmental-specific business usage to compensate for specialist shortages and know-how losses due to veteran staff retirement.
National Support Direction
The national government promotes the following support measures: (1) Establishing guidelines for local governments to improve the situation where 1,004 organizations had not established generative AI usage guidelines as of end-2024, (2) Addressing challenges including cost care to make it easier for local governments to experience effects and implementation considerations, (3) Providing information useful for local government AI utilization from the national government, including information obtained through operation of the Advanced AI Utilization Advisory Board.
The article shows comprehensive initiatives aimed at realizing efficient, high-quality administrative services and reducing staff workload through promoting AI utilization in local governments.