Ambition, Capacity and Reality: The Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Public Sector in Shanghai

This dissertation examines whether Shanghai is fulfilling its goal to improve public service provision by accelerating the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the public sector. After clarifying the technical and social factors affecting the use of AI in this area, it gauges the capacity of Shanghai to implement AI in the public sector. Then it examines how this capacity has translated into three policy initiatives that promote public sector AI applications, the strengths and limitations of such initiatives, and their impacts on public service provision in the municipality. Upon this basis, the analysis demonstrates that Shanghai is enhancing public service delivery by integrating AI in the activities of public organizations. By using the findings of the study of Shanghai to gain a deeper understanding of key topics in public sector AI research, this dissertation contributes new knowledge about the use of AI to improve the provision of public services.