The use of AI within the government is growing rapidly. At the same time, governments face a number of fundamental challenges. How do we ensure that AI solutions are safe, reliable, and explainable? How do we prevent new dependencies on foreign technology?
To address these questions, AIC4NL’s Digital Government division is collaborating with the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK) on a strategy to strengthen the AI stack (all the technology, software, and hardware needed to build, train, and operate AI systems) within the government. This strategy is part of AIC4NL’s broader vision for AI Fair Tech: AI that is developed and applied in a responsible, sovereign, and resilient manner. This requires investments in applications and the strengthening of the AI stack. By developing applications, tools, data, AI models, and infrastructure in a coordinated manner, we will create a sustainable AI ecosystem for the public sector.
A comprehensive approach to the AI stack
The Digital Government division has deliberately opted for a broad approach. This involves examining all the elements necessary for the sustainable and responsible use of AI: applications, tools, data, AI models, and infrastructure.
Joint development
Government agencies often have similar processes, challenges, and needs, but they still tend to address them in isolation. By tackling issues collectively and presenting a unified front to the market, they create the clarity, scale, and continuity needed to accelerate innovation.
To achieve this, the working group will collaborate with so-called “buyer groups.” In these groups, various government agencies pool their knowledge, needs, and challenges related to a specific process. By working together, they will develop a clear picture of the functional, legal, organizational, and technical requirements that AI solutions must meet.
In this way, the participating government agencies act collectively as a “launching customer.” As the first and combined buyer, they send a clear signal to the market and provide the assurance needed to invest in solutions tailored to the public sector. It is not individual government agencies launching their own pilot projects, but a coalition. Together, they begin scaling up, thereby expanding the opportunities available to innovation providers.
Objections and Appeals
The first buyer group focuses on the objection and appeal process. This is a logical first step, as many government agencies face similar challenges. These often involve large numbers of cases, complex regulations, extensive administrative procedures, and high standards of diligence, transparency, and legal scrutiny.
This is precisely where AI can help streamline processes, provide better support to employees, and deliver faster services to residents and businesses. This requires solutions that are reliable, explainable, and accountable. That makes objections and appeals a promising first use case for gaining collective experience with AI within the government.
From collective demand to scaling up
The buyer groups are part of the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations’ AI scaling-up facility and are managed by the ICT Implementation Organization (ICTU). Through this facility, government agencies collaborate on scaling up AI applications—from small-scale pilots to broad and responsible implementations.
This approach enables startups, scale-ups, and other technology providers to develop solutions that directly address the needs of multiple government agencies at once. In doing so, we take a comprehensive view of the entire AI stack.
By pooling demand into buyer groups, an attractive opportunity is created for the market to invest in new solutions. This gives governments greater control over quality, interoperability, security, accountability, and digital sovereignty.
AIC4NL as director
AI Coalition 4 NL plays a coordinating role in this process. We connect supply and demand, facilitate collaboration between government agencies, research institutions, and private-sector partners, and help create the conditions for successful implementation and scaling up. In this way, we are building, step by step, a digital government that uses AI responsibly, independently, and resiliently to serve citizens, businesses, and societal challenges.
Information session for the first buyer group on June 16
On June 16, an initial session will be held with the various stakeholders of the AI Objections and Appeals Buyer Group. During this meeting, we will provide insight into the process and how government agencies, research institutions, and market participants can get involved.
Interested in participating or would you like more information? Please email digitaleoverheid@aic4nl.nl.
