Key insights from Agency in an AI-enabled world
As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in public sector work, a central question emerged at ANZSOG and the Forum of Federation's recent tri-national conversation Agency in an AI-Enabled World: how can governments harness AI's benefits while retaining control over critical decisions, data and public accountability?
Speakers Emma MacDonald (Director of the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation (CDEI), Yannick Newton (Director of Intergovernmental Cooperation, Institute for Citizen-Centred Service) and ANZSOG’s Kate Carruthers (Head of Data, Analytics and AI) explored what responsible AI adoption looks like in practice and highlighted the importance of preserving agency rather than pursuing absolute sovereignty.
The discussion emphasised that rather than owning every aspect of AI infrastructure, governments should focus on maintaining control over key decisions, governance, data, identity and accountability, while building strategic partnerships to access capability and scale.
It also explored the growing challenges of data sovereignty, cloud dependence and AI governance.
Panellists stressed that data residency alone does not guarantee control, and that safeguards, accountability measures and trust must be designed into systems from the outset.
A recurring theme was the need to look beyond productivity gains when evaluating AI. Success should be measured by improved decision quality, fairness, citizen outcomes and meaningful human oversight.
AI was consistently framed throughout the discussion as a tool to strengthen public servants, not replace them, with practical examples spanning policy analysis, migration insights and cross-government collaboration, while still requiring careful stewardship from public sector leaders.
The session concluded with a call for stronger AI literacy, safe experimentation and leadership accountability. Speakers emphasised that responsible AI adoption will depend not only on technical capability, but on the ability of public servants and institutions to ask the right questions, understand the risks and use AI in ways that strengthen public trust.
Taken together, the discussion reinforced that the future of AI in government will not be defined by technology alone. It will be shaped by the choices governments make about control, accountability and the public value they want AI to serve.
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