In the process of digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming one of the most important tools for the development of public administration, while also presenting new challenges in terms of enhancing employee skills and ensuring the safe and responsible use of technology. To strengthen these competencies, the first Artificial Intelligence Day for public administration employees took place in Latvia on March 17, during which participants not only learned about current AI trends in public administration but also gained practical experience with AI tools and their application in daily work.
AI Implementation as a Process Disruptor
A key skill is the ability to distinguish the main functions of widely used traditional AI search tools, as well as to understand that the data and training approach used in training AI systems directly impact the quality and reliability of the information provided. Equally important is the ability to develop and refine questions and prompts for virtual assistants and AI systems. At the same time, one must be able to promote the smart and ethical use of AI in content creation, as well as identify and automate routine tasks using programming tools or AI solutions.
“AI is rapidly becoming an everyday work tool, and for public administration to fully leverage its potential, mere access to technology is not enough—it is essential that employees understand it, evaluate it critically, and use it responsibly. In the AI era, skills are the real currency, which is why targeted competency development is becoming increasingly important,” emphasizes Agita Kalviņa, Director of the State Administration School.
The event highlighted that the implementation of AI can accelerate development in both the public and private sectors. Latvia has several strengths that allow it to harness this potential—a developed e-government and digital state infrastructure, strong performance in data management, cybersecurity, and regulation, as well as a relatively open attitude among businesses and institutions toward the use of AI.
Responsible AI Use and Governance – From Words to Action
Gatis Ozols, Deputy State Secretary for Digital Transformation at the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development, spoke about the annual monitoring of AI use in public administration conducted in 2025. The study’s results reveal that the most frequently used AI tools are ChatGPT (41%), Copilot (21%), and Gemini (6%). Over the past year, Latvia has established a solid foundation for AI development by introducing AI guidelines, establishing an AI center, and creating a dedicated regulatory framework. The next steps and priorities for 2026–2028 include the development of a national AI plan, the creation of a unified AI architecture, the development of a national AI sharing platform, and the implementation of an AI act.
Public administration must fully leverage the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence, emphasized Raimonds Čudars, Minister of Smart Administration and Regional Development, noting that AI solutions can help reduce uncertainty, simplify processes, and make public administration more efficient. “Artificial intelligence is not a matter for the future; it is today’s reality, in which we can achieve significant improvements if we are able to learn and adapt,” the minister emphasized.
Meanwhile, Jānis Paiders, State Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Science, noted that Artificial Intelligence Day serves as a reminder of Latvia’s high level of digitalization. “Latvia is a digitally advanced country where the proportion of AI users is among the highest in the world. The task of the education sector is not only to teach how to use AI tools, but to teach how to use them meaningfully, critically, and responsibly. For example, approximately 81% of students already use AI tools, so it is important that they serve to develop critical thinking in future workers, rather than just completing tasks,” he explains.
The MI Regulatory Sandbox as a Form of Collaboration
Latvia is one of the few countries where this approach is used, providing an opportunity to involve participants from the very start of the project, experiment with ideas, and achieve practical results. The sandbox environment provides faster clarity on regulatory requirements, while helping companies understand compliance aspects and establish standardized processes. From the government’s perspective, the sandbox is not merely support for a specific project—it serves as a learning environment where institutions and companies jointly master the principles of AI implementation, improve competencies, and strengthen mutual cooperation.
The event emphasized that AI solutions in public administration are no longer considered a future prospect, but rather a practical tool that is already being used in document analysis, data processing, customer service, and decision-making support. At the same time, the need to ensure the secure and responsible use of technology was emphasized, with particular attention paid to data protection, transparency, and strengthening user trust.
During the in-person event, participants also had the opportunity to learn about the latest AI and digital transformation solutions presented by Proof IT, the Baltic Computer Academy, the Transport and Telecommunications Institute (TSI), the Latvian IT Cluster / European Digital Innovation Hub, the Cultural Information Systems Center, Tet, the Riga Technical University HPC Center, AI Master Lab, SIA Datakom, and SIA Fitek.
The first Artificial Intelligence Day is organized by the Digital Academy of Public Administration at the State Administration School in collaboration with the State Digital Development Agency and the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development. The organizers note that events of this kind are essential for fostering a shared understanding of digital development trends and strengthening cooperation among institutions. It is planned that Artificial Intelligence Day will continue to be held as a regular platform for knowledge exchange, promoting the secure, effective, and targeted use of AI in public administration.
The event is funded by the European Union Recovery Fund project No. 2.3.2.2.i.0/1/23/I/VARAM/001 “Digital Academy of Public Administration.”
Information prepared by:
School of Public Administration