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Use cases for AI in parliaments
Parliaments are increasingly looking to use artificial intelligence (AI) to improve efficiency, effectiveness and productivity. However, the path from recognizing this potential to implementing AI solutions can be complex and daunting, not to mention fraught with ethical as well as technical challenges. This is where “use cases” can help by setting out potential roadmaps for parliaments.
A “use case” describes how a system should work. It is used to plan, develop and measure implementation. Use cases act as a bridge, connecting the abstract potential of AI with the practical realities of parliamentary operations. This structured approach helps parliaments learn about, experiment with and ultimately integrate AI into their work in a thoughtful and responsible manner. A use case differs from a “case study”, which is a descriptive text of an actual project’s implementation.
As part of CIP’s AI governance guidelines project, led by our Parliamentary Data Science (PDS) Hub, coordinated by the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies, parliaments have been developing use cases that explore how AI works in a parliamentary setting. To date, over 40 use cases have been shared by parliaments, including the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies, the Parliament of Estonia, the European Parliament and the Chamber of Deputies and Senate of Italy.
These use cases illustrate the contexts for AI and provide tangible examples of AI in parliamentary settings. The examples range from AI-powered research assistants to automated transcription services for plenary sessions.
As parliaments explore the possibilities of AI, use cases become tools for experimentation. Building on the practical experiences of others, they offer parliaments a framework for prototyping without yet committing to full-scale implementation. For instance, a parliament might use a case study on AI-driven document analysis to set up a small trial in one committee, testing the technology’s ability to summarize lengthy reports or public submissions.
These experimental phases are crucial. They help parliaments assess the real-world impact of AI on their processes, understand the resources required and identify unforeseen challenges. The insights gained help shape the path forward for AI in parliaments, not only the technology landscape but the development of essential policies and ethical guidelines to ensure AI is used appropriately and responsibly.
Throughout this journey, use cases serve as powerful tools for engagement. They facilitate meaningful discussions among parliamentarians, staff, technical experts and other stakeholders. By providing concrete examples and data, they help build understanding.
CIP’s use cases for AI in parliament are available to all parliaments to explore and use. They are grouped into a number of categories:
- Classification systems – AI tools that categorize volumes of data.
- Bill drafting and amendments – AI tools that support legislative drafting and the management of amendments.
- Transcription and translation –AI tools that support the production of verbatim reports or subtitles for video content.
- Chatbots and supporting users – AI tools that use natural language prompts to help users better understand parliamentary processes or data, including bills and amendments.
- Public engagement – AI tools that support public engagement, particularly the analysis of large volumes of public submissions.
Other groupings could also be relevant, for example by the parliamentary functions of representation, legislation and oversight.
In some instances, these use cases have already been approved, experimented with or prototyped by parliaments. In others, they remain at the stage of an idea, setting down the first step in a process of exploration in a formal way.
This first batch of use cases follows the March 2024 Issues brief on Using generative AI in parliaments. A second batch of use cases will be published in September 2024. The use cases will be complemented by a set of Guidelines on AI governance in parliaments currently being developed through the CIP Parliamentary Data Science (PDS) Hub.
The Use cases for AI in parliaments are currently available in English only. For more information, please contact [email protected].