Artificial intelligence in e-governance: Addressing the digital divide and transforming India’s digital public infrastructure

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) possesses the capacity to transform India's administrative landscape by incorporating AI into e-governance technologies, hence enhancing efficiency, accessibility, and inclusivity. This paper analyses the diverse impacts, challenges, and opportunities resulting from India's implementation of AI in e-governance. This study examines how advanced data analytics and predictive modelling might enhance decision-making, service delivery, and expedite bureaucratic processes to promote e-governance in India. It additionally addresses how AI-driven chatbots and virtual assistants could enhance public engagement and facilitate responsive governance. The research examines the challenges of implementing AI in e-governance, encompassing concerns related to data security, privacy, and biases in algorithmic decision-making. It also addresses the digital divide and the imperative of augmenting government personnel' proficiency in the effective utilization of AI technologies. The report emphasizes significant opportunities to employ artificial intelligence (AI) in e-governance to address societal challenges and foster sustainable development. These potentials encompass employing AI to formulate proactive policies, provide individualized services, and initiate targeted efforts in sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, and education. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the implications, challenges, and opportunities of artificial intelligence in transforming e-governance in India.