Harnessing artificial intelligence in social security : use cases, governance and workforce readiness

Title page 1

Contents 6

Foreword 4

Acknowledgements 5

Abbreviations and acronyms 8

Executive summary 9

1. Effective use of AI in Social Security 11

Analytical framework 12

The use of AI in social protection systems across OECD countries 13

AI for checking eligibility of means-tested benefits: The case of energy poverty reports in Catalonia 14

Machine learning for document recognition and classification, the case of the German Federal Employment Agency 17

AI to simplify claims processing: The case of Finland's Social Security Institution 22

Cross-cutting insights 24

References 27

Note 28

2. Unlocking the potential of trustworthy AI in social security 29

Enablers - Are the right enablers in place to support the use of AI? 31

Guardrails - How do countries manage the risk of AI in the public sector? 39

Engagement - How are users being engaged on the use of AI systems? 44

References 49

Notes 50

3. Building an AI-ready workforce 51

Understanding workforce and skills implications of AI 52

Skills needs related to AI in the social security sector 55

Building in-house capability for AI through recruitment and strategic partnerships 56

Developing AI-related skills through training 59

Strategic workforce development 65

References 70

Notes 73

Annex 3.A. Examples of AI-related training in OECD countries 74

Tables 7

Table 2.1. National strategy for AI in the public sector 32

Table 2.2. Making investment decisions about adopting AI systems 32

Table 2.3. Specific funding allocated for the development and use of public sector AI systems 33

Table 2.4. Supporting public institutions in the procurement of AI 34

Table 2.5. Key components of digital infrastructure are being used to support the integration of AI 35

Table 2.6. Guardrails in place to manage the use of AI tools 39

Table 2.7. Actors engaged in the development of public sector AI policies and use cases 45

Table 3.1. Skill needs related to AI by target group 55

Figures 7

Figure 1.1. Current and potential uses of artificial intelligence in social protection 13

Figure 1.2. Example of a suggestion in VerBIS based on a sample job advertisement 19

Figure 2.1. OECD Framework for Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence in Government 30

Figure 2.2. OECD Model Framework for Data Governance in the Public Sector 36

Figure 3.1. Illustration of AI training examples by target group 61

Boxes 14

Box 1.1. AI and the future of social protection: current and future uses of AI in social protection systems 14

Box 1.2. Uses of AI in Public Employment Services 18

Box 1.3. The BA's guiding principles to strengthen the traceability of AI 20

Box 3.1. Free training and learning resources on AI 64

Box 3.2. Private sector initiatives to comply with the AI Act Art. 4 64

Annex Tables 7

Annex Table 3.A.1. Examples of training on AI in public administration 74

Annex Table 3.A.2. Examples of AI training in public administration leading to a degree or qualification 75