“Polyanna politics” – is New Zealand’s framework for AI use in government too optimistic?

The New Yorker magazine’s recently published investigation into OpenAI CEO Sam Altman raised an intriguing question: Can the people who develop this powerful technology actually be trusted?

The report described a system in which commercial incentives influence behavior and oversight is viewed as harassment. In Aotearoa, New Zealand, a similarly pressing question arises: can the governance frameworks we build to manage technology be trusted to work?

This is particularly true for public services and government agencies, which are now being encouraged to use AI. At a recent International Research Society for Public Management conference, the global research community addressed the question of how to balance AI with the public interest.

A clear divergence is emerging. Some jurisdictions are building surveillance-intensive data systems, while others are building robust, mandatory systems to protect citizens’ consent.

Aotearoa New Zealand finds itself in a precarious middle ground. The