AI, interoperability, and consent

In an era where technological advancements are rapidly reshaping industries, Artificial Intelligence (AI), interoperability, and enhanced consent management have the ability to impact the efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of Public Services at all levels. Particularly within New Zealand's government services, these technologies could revolutionise how we bridge global initiatives with individual community needs. AI, interoperability, and improved consent mechanisms have the potential not only enhance efficiency but also empower individuals by giving them greater control over their personal data.

A new paradigm in service delivery

Traditionally, service design has been a top-down process, disconnected and often duplicative. Global policies inform national strategies, which are then implemented regionally and locally. This approach often leads to a disconnect between broad objectives and the unique needs of individual communities. AI, interoperability, and advanced consent management are changing this dynamic by enabling services that are globally informed, seamlessly connected, and individually controlled.

From global to personal: the role of AI, interoperability, and consent management

Global influences national: New Zealand's connections with our Pacific Island neighbours and the wider Asia-Pacific region are vital. AI provides the opportunity for our government to analyse international data efficiently, identifying regional trends and best practices. Interoperability ensures that this data is shared across relevant departments, and to support our regional neighbours aligning national policies with global standards while addressing our specific circumstances.

National tailored to regional: AI combined with interoperability provides the opportunity to aid in customising national strategies for different regions within New Zealand at a pace more rapid and targeted than has been possible before. Interoperable systems allow regional authorities to access and contribute data, highlighting unique challenges and opportunities, and understand the impact on local policy settings —whether supporting the agricultural sector in Waikato or addressing housing needs in Auckland. Enhanced consent management then is able to ensure that data used at the regional level respects individual preferences and privacy.

Regional adapted to local: to understand what is important, AI facilitates the drill down to adapt regional initiatives to specific community needs based on specifical detailed information. For example, analysis of satellite images of local roading conditions to understand the optimal distribution of resources, combined with usage metrics and aggregated understanding of planning initiatives across the region. Interoperability between local agencies is then able to ensure that services are coordinated and responsive, both in response to an event but also long-term planning cycles. With improved consent mechanisms supporting consent down to the attribute level, individuals can control which specific pieces of their data are shared and used by different services, enhancing trust and participation. 

Local personalised for individuals: ultimately, AI enables services to be personalised for individuals within a community. Interoperable platforms, coupled with advanced consent management, allow for a unified yet controlled view of each person's interactions with various services. This ensures that support is cohesive, meaningful, and respects the individual's data-sharing preferences. An individual is able to understand regional and local council services such as library offerings, rates, and provide updates to the council on what needs to be fixed in the community, at the same time as accessing information on services provided at a more national level, such as health care, disaster insurance and vehicle/driver licencing.

Transforming government services through AI, interoperability, and consent management

Consider a government healthcare programme aiming to improve public health outcomes:

Personalised healthcare: AI analyses individual health data to provide tailored health recommendations, preventative care measures, and early detection of potential health issues. Interoperability ensures that this data is securely shared between healthcare providers linking GP with hospital, private and community providers. With consent management at the attribute level, individuals decide exactly which health data points they're comfortable sharing, enhancing trust and engagement, and ability to delegate responsibility for example for whanau-based care approaches.

Community-specific initiatives: AI identifies community health trends, while interoperable systems allow for collaboration between departments to address these trends effectively. Advanced consent mechanisms ensure that aggregated data used for community initiatives respects individual privacy settings.

Efficient resource allocation: AI forecasts demand for medical services, and interoperability ensures resources are allocated efficiently across departments and regions. Consent management ensures that data used for planning is appropriately anonymised or aggregated, adhering to individuals' consent preferences.

Conclusion

AI, interoperability, and advanced consent management are transforming service design, enabling us to deliver more effective, efficient, and personalised services while empowering individuals with control over their data. By embracing these technologies, we can create a future where services are globally informed, seamlessly connected, and individually controlled.

Actionable next steps:

• Implement advanced consent mechanisms: invest in consent management systems that allow individuals to control their data at a granular level.
• Prioritise data ethics: develop and enforce strong data governance policies that respect individual choices and comply with regulations.
• Collaborate across sectors: engage with technology providers, privacy experts, and the community to build systems that are trustworthy and effective.

By taking these steps, leaders can drive transformative change, enhancing how we operate and design services to better serve people now and into the future.