How can advances in data science and evaluation help improve the way that government operates?

Although new technologies offer real solutions to many of society’s greatest challenges, the public sector increasingly lacks the capacity to build and implement these initiatives, let alone respond to the AI revolution. 

Our research explores how data science, machine learning, and new program design can help revitalize government and where rigorous evaluation and evidence are most needed. RegLab collaborates with many agencies to carry out high-impact demonstration projects and investigates critical questions related to adoption of AI and machine learning by the public sector. 

In 2020, RegLab faculty were involved in producing the leading report on AI in federal regulatory agencies. As the technical landscape rapidly changes, we are interested in how the public sector adopts AI, what principles should apply to the use of AI for government functions, and how best to increase capacity looking forward.