Abstract Summary
In the complex tapestry of urban governance, the traditionally perceived trade-off between accountability and discretion is undergoing a seismic shift with the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in recent years. This article investigates the transformative role of AI in bureaucratic systems, offering blueprints for future-ready urban governance. At the center of this study is a further exploration of "accountable discretion" (Goldsmith & Crawford, 2014), which captures the evolving dynamics between technologies and bureaucracy, suggesting a pathway for governmental agencies to recalibrate the delicate balance between discretion and accountability. The working paper brings forward two important propositions. First, cities, with their inherent complexities, cannot solely rely on technological determinism for progress. They demand a symbiotic interplay between human intuition, judgment, and technological capabilities. Here, AI emerges not as a substitute but as a tool, amplifying and refining human decision-making. By drawing on AI's computational prowess, bureaucrats are equipped with data-driven insights, facilitating nuanced, adaptable, and efficient decision-making processes. Concurrently, AI's real-time monitoring, analytics, and predictive functionalities ensure that this broadened discretion is exercised within the bounds of ethical, legal, and societal norms. Second, the paper discusses how AI, when astutely integrated into bureaucratic systems, can both expand the discretionary space for bureaucrats and simultaneously maintain rigorous standards of accountability. This transformative shift may redefine the traditional trade-offs between bureaucrats’ discretion (Lipsky, 1980)) and accountability in urban governance (Bovens, 2007; 2010), championing an equilibrium that leverages technological advancements without sidelining core governance values. The paper further delves into real-world applications, from tax filing evaluations to monitoring outsourced services, presenting AI as a linchpin in modernizing governance. However, the road ahead is not without its crevices: issues of transparency, cybersecurity, and privacy demand attention. Our exploration underscores the importance of governance-promoting technologies, particularly in the course of AI-enhanced governance. Cities are championed as active agents in shaping human society, not merely as passive recipients of technological innovations. This intertwined relationship between humans and AI offers a pragmatic pathway for cities of the future to navigate the challenges, aspiring for governance strategies that are transparent, effective, and adaptive to the ever-evolving urban milieu.
