Future of administration: District administrator discusses AI potential in Kyritz

Future of administration: District administrator discusses AI potential in Kyritz

Yesterday Dr. Christian Schulze Pellengahr, district administrator from Coesfeld, in the Ostprignitz-Ruppin partner group. He took part in the district administration's leadership conference in Kyritz, Brandenburg. The focus of this conference was a highly topical topic: the opportunities and possibilities of using artificial intelligence (AI) in administration. Various specialist lectures were dedicated to the concrete implementation of AI in administrative departments. Particularly interesting was Dr. Schulze Pellengahr's report on his own experiences with AI in the Coesfeld administration, which stimulated the exchange among the district administrators.

In a personal conversation with District Administrator Ralf Reinhardt, the municipal structural reform was also discussed. Reinhardt had already spoken at the “50 Years of Municipal Reorganization” ceremony in Coesfeld and emphasized the importance of reforms for the efficient organization of administration. This shows once again how important regular exchange between the two district administrators is in order to learn from each other and create synergies, like [Kreis Coesfeld].

Artificial Intelligence – A revolutionary tool

The conference was part of a larger framework supported by a study by Fraunhofer IAO that deals intensively with the role of AI in public administration. Under the leadership of Steffen Braun and the renowned study author Prof. Dr. von Lucke, this study has identified the extent to which AI can revolutionize administrative processes - to the benefit of both employees and citizens. Application examples such as chatbots and digital assistants for service show how AI makes everyday requirements more efficient to handle. The secure administration of identity management is also one of the topics that were addressed, as documented by Fraunhofer IAO.

But despite all the euphoria, there are also challenges. Demographic change, which is leading to a loss of employment in Germany, requires administrations to optimize their processes. Artificial intelligence can be a real blessing here by taking over routine tasks and creating more space for strategic tasks. Today's lively citizens expect a high level of service orientation and transparency. AI is a tool here that can increase efficiency, allowing citizen requests to be handled faster and more precisely, as explained on [Kommune Digital Forum](https://www.kommune-digital-forum.de/de/themen/general/opportunities-und-borne-was-ki-in-der-verwaltung- aktuell-leuten-kann).

Legal and ethical considerations

However, there are important legal, technical and ethical considerations to take into account when implementing AI in government. The EU's AI Act sets standards for the safe and responsible management of AI technologies. High-risk AI systems that use sensitive data must be subject to strict security measures. This requires administrations not only to make technical adaptations, but also to train staff in order to successfully design the long-term integration of AI.

In summary, it can be said that the use of artificial intelligence in public administration is expected to continue to gain in importance. Events like the one in Kyritz are essential to share knowledge and experiences and to create a sustainable, efficient administrative apparatus.