What is it about?
We explore how artificial intelligence (AI) holds promise as an important and additional tool for combating corruption in public procurement in emerging economies. We present a framework for AI adoption and deployment in the Global South. We argue that the lack and absence of an efficient data governance regime in the Global South, among others, may be hindering the adoption and deployment of emerging technologies such as AI in the fight against corruption. We suggest that integrating AI into existing public sector management systems requires skilled personnel that countries in the South may not have.
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Why is it important?
We aim to extend the understanding of how the emergent technology of AI may be another important tool in the fight against corruption in emerging economies. We discuss how AI and related emergent technologies can help build greater accountability and transparency regimes in public procurement, a key source of public corruption. We argue that there are infrastructural, social, ethical, and political challenges to the successful use of emerging technologies of AI in the fight against public corruption. We make inferences from the discussion and provide some tentative guidelines for policymakers. We suggest that using AI as part of a program of institutional reforms in the public sector would increase technology’s role and contributions to the fight against systemic corruption in public procurement in emerging economies. Key
Perspectives
There is potential for artificial intelligence (AI) to play a role in combating public corruption in emerging economies. Here are some ways in which AI could potentially contribute to this effort: Fraud detection: AI algorithms can analyze large amounts of data to identify patterns that may indicate fraudulent activity. This can help authorities identify and investigate instances of corruption in real-time. Risk assessment: AI can be used to assess the risk of corruption in a given context, helping authorities prioritize their efforts and allocate resources more effectively. Transparency: AI can be used to automate the process of collecting and publishing data on government activities, making it easier for citizens to hold their leaders accountable. Predictive analytics: AI can be used to analyze data on past instances of corruption to identify trends and predict where corruption is most likely to occur in the future. Process automation: AI can be used to automate certain processes, such as procurement, which can help reduce the opportunities for corruption. It's important to note that AI is not a silver bullet for solving the problem of public corruption in emerging economies. It is one tool among many that can be used in the fight against corruption, and it will be most effective when used in conjunction with other measures, such as strong legal frameworks, effective oversight, and efforts to promote transparency and accountability.
Prof. Robert M Yawson, PhD
Quinnipiac University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The promise of artificial intelligence in combating public corruption in the emerging economies: A conceptual framework, Science and Public Policy, December 2022, Oxford University Press (OUP),
DOI: 10.1093/scipol/scac068.
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