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AI: A boon or bane for ASEAN public sector job?
AI creates new employment opportunities in the public sector based on the enhanced skill proficiency, such as for information and technology (IT) specialists, engineers and data scientists.
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Head start: Government employees take part in a ceremony to mark the opening of the work year at Tegar Beriman Square in Cibinong, Bogor regency, West Java on Jan. 2, 2024. The government has increased civil servants’ salaries by 8 percent this year. (Antara/Yulius Satria Wijaya)
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n the fast-paced shift toward a digital future, the question for ASEAN is whether artificial intelligence (AI) will bring new opportunities or pose serious threats to public sector jobs.
There is no denying that digital transformation will shape the future. AI has gained popularity in recent years, as the global market for AI amounted to US$207.9 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $1.8 trillion by 2030.
Generative AI, such as ChatGPT, is at the forefront of the mainstream, achieving over 100 million weekly users within a year. The chatbot continues to unlock many opportunities for efficiency by providing information and advice, and even functioning as a personal virtual assistant.
Following recent trends, ASEAN governments have raised interest in further utilizing AI in their economic sectors. A Kearney study revealed that despite early-stage AI adoption in 83 percent of Southeast Asian countries, more than 70 percent of survey respondents perceived AI as vital for the future and believe that the rate of AI adoption needs to be sped up in the region.
In the case of ASEAN’s public sector, a significant shift is underway as AI accelerates the digitalization of public service delivery. Automated administrative decision-making, the integration of chatbots and advances in public governance are some of the examples of AI application in the public services sector.
Singapore sets an example in the region, debuting its National AI Strategy in 2019, which integrates AI applications in the public sector. Notable examples include the municipal services office and the OneService chatbot, which increases convenience for the submission of complaints regarding municipal issues through the newly implemented chatbot system.
Other ASEAN countries are also on the track to integrating AI in their public sectors. Indonesia has initiated an AI-based online public service platform known as the e-government application, aimed at enhancing the efficiency of public service delivery.
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