Artificial intelligence (AI) is a rapidly evolving field that has the potential to improve and streamline various government services and processes, argues Wired, one of the world-leading technology magazines. AI can be used in various ways in government, including virtual assistants that help citizens navigate services offered by the state or education, and ease everyday life.

Estonia is working on a new AI-based virtual assistant called Bürokratt. Taking inspiration from Amazon’s Alexa and Apple’s Siri, Bürokratt will provide Estonians with a voice-based way to navigate key services provided by the state, such as renewing a passport or applying for benefits.

Bürokratt is currently being tested in the Consumer Protection and Technical Surveillance Authority’s service environment and is planned to be implemented in other institutions, including the Police and Border Guard Board and the National Library. In addition, Bürokratt aims to provide cross-border services and seeks partners in the European Union to implement the software.

The case of Bürokratt and the implementation of AI in governmental services does not come from anywhere; it’s built on a strong foundation of AI-powered startups and research initiatives. Estonia is home to more than 300+ startups in that niche, from AI-powered negotiations by Pactum to intelligent cross-border compliance by Eurora.