Title: Rethinking Public Administration in the Digital Age: Governance, Transformation, and the Role of AI

Dr. Konstantina Kotsiopoulou, Adjunct Lecturer and Post-Doc Researcher at the Department of Business and Organization Administration, University of the Peloponnese.

Extended abstract :

1. Introduction

Public administration globally is undergoing a profound transformation as governments increasingly integrate digital technologies. This shift extends beyond mere improvements in efficiency and service delivery, impacting the fundamental aspects of democratic governance, including transparency, citizen participation, and institutional adaptability. Within this evolving landscape, artificial intelligence is emerging not simply as a technological innovation, but as a significant structural force poised to redefine the operational logic and ethical foundations of the public sector.

This paper systematically examines the implications of AI-driven transformation within public administration, employing a combination of theoretical frameworks and comparative analysis. The research specifically investigates how public institutions are responding to the imperatives of the digital era, with a particular focus on the Greek case situated within the broader European context.

2. Methodology

Adopting a qualitative and comparative methodological approach, this study analyzes three internationally recognized exemplars of advanced digital public governance and AI integration: Estonia, Portugal, and Finland. These cases are critically juxtaposed with the developing experience in Greece, primarily as manifested through the gov.gr portal and associated governmental initiatives.

Primary data sources include official policy documents, national digital strategy reports, European Union benchmark studies, and relevant academic literature. The objective of this research is not empirical quantification but rather the development of conceptual maps and the facilitation of policy-relevant insights.

3. Main Findings / Discussion

The analysis reveals a notable divergence: while nations such as Estonia and Finland have successfully embedded AI into their public service ecosystems, characterized by institutional coherence and robust democratic oversight, Greece's digital transition appears predominantly technical and fragmented. Despite the demonstrable success of gov.gr in streamlining access to public services, persistent underlying challenges include a lack of interoperability, the prevalence of administrative silo structures, and a nascent state of AI readiness.

Furthermore, the paper posits that conceptualizing AI solely as a tool for enhancing administrative efficiency overlooks its crucial normative and ethical dimensions. A failure to establish robust institutional frameworks, clear regulatory guidelines, and a transformative shift in administrative culture risks exacerbating social inequalities, eroding accountability, and undermining public trust in the integration of AI within the public sector.

• 1. Conclusion

This extended abstract summarizes a forthcoming paper that critically examines the transformative role of AI in shaping the future trajectory of public administration. It contends that the digital transformation of state apparatuses constitutes not merely an infrastructural or software-related endeavor, but fundamentally a complex governance challenge. For Greece, as for all democratic nations, the pathway forward necessitates a judicious balance between technological innovation and rigorous institutional introspection, thereby ensuring that technological advancements genuinely serve, rather than compromise, democratic governance principles.

Keywords: public administration, artificial intelligence, digital governance, Greece, institutional reform

JEL Classification Codes: D72, H83, O33, O38