Artificial Intelligence in Public Policy

Governments increasingly rely on artificial intelligence (AI) to deliver policies and improve services. The need to detect patterns in society and quickly determine what needs attention form policy makers and how to be improved based on raw data falls within the realm of what has been generally termed as AI. However, the use of AI in the policymaking process and implementation is not risk free (as shown by the struggles encountered by the Dutch government to spot fraud amongst people applying for benefits; in this case, the self-learning algorithm used by the Dutch tax authorities penalizes families wrongly on a mere suspicion of fraud thus leading people to suicide and taking children into foster care).

This module covers the meaning, governance and applicability of AI in public policy. It brings conceptual clarification on AI and uncovers the practical application of AI related technologies to the policy arena. A strong emphasis is placed on misuses/ abuses/mistakes of AI application in public policy and their learning potential for policy practitioners. Finally, the topic of ethical and responsible AI is brought to the forefront.

This programme does not require technical skills or the ability to code.

Week 1

In this week we will look at the uses of AI in public policy focusing on: a) key aspects of the policy cycle in which AI has been involved; b) citizen centric policy using AI; c) the economic impacts of AI use for the public sector.

Week 2

In this week we will look at AI regulatory frameworks focusing on: a) transnational and national regulatory tools; b) responsible AI: meanings, tools and techniques; c) ethical use of AI. We shall employ key case studies regarding ‘success’ and ‘failures’ of AI based technologies in the public arena.

Week 3

In this final week, we will focus on the risks of using AI in the public sphere by focusing on key sectors – e.g. national security, health, education. We will also look at the long-term future of AI in public policy.

Having completed this course, the participants will:

1. Know the basics of the technologies behind AI such as machine learning, deep learning, neural networks, and algorithms.
2. Understand how to apply this knowledge to the policy making process.
3. Develop an informed opinion about AI and its social and ethical implications.
4. Develop a contextual understanding of AI, its history, and evolution, in order to have an informed opinion for its future use and trajectory in public policy.

This short course is for mid-career professionals. Standard entry requirements are a 2:1 degree plus 3 years of relevant work experience. Applicants without a 2:1 or higher degree are welcome to apply and typically require 5+ years of relevant work experience.

One written assignment, plus participation in webinars and discussion forums.

Our modules offer high levels of interaction with regular points of assessment and feedback. Each four week module is worth five Master's level academic credits and includes three webinars with a King's lecturer and peer group of global professionals.

Format: Fully online, plus 3 x 1-hour weekly webinars, plus one optional induction webinar in the week before the start of teaching and an optional assessment webinar in Week 4.

This module has been designed specifically for an online audience. It uses a range of interactive activities to support learning including discussion forums, online readings, interactive lectures videos and online tutorials.

Tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.

Module Creator

Roxana is senior lecturer in Public Policy in the International School for Government, Faculty of Social Sciences and Public Policy, King’s College London. Before joining King’s in 2022, she was a lecturer in Corruption Analysis at the University of Sussex and a postdoctoral researcher at University College London, School of Slavonic and East European Studies. Roxana’s research interests and publications focus on anti-corruption public policies and practices, digitalisation and its impact on (anti)corruption, narratives of corruption, and integrity development.

Roxana holds a PhD in Sociology from the London School of Economics and Political Sciences. Before embarking on a PhD, she was a Chevening Scholar at the Centre for Criminology, University of Oxford.