Integration of artificial intelligence of things (AIoT) in the public sector: drivers, barriers and future research agenda
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/DPRG-06-2022-0067 |
| Published date | 27 September 2022 |
| Date | 27 September 2022 |
| Pages | 449-462 |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Information management & governance,Information policy |
| Author | Fredrick R. Ishengoma,Deo Shao,Charalampos Alexopoulos,Stuti Saxena,Anastasija Nikiforova |
Integration of artificial intelligence of things
(AIoT) in the public sector: drivers, barriers
and future research agenda
Fredrick R. Ishengoma, Deo Shao, Charalampos Alexopoulos, Stuti Saxena and
Anastasija Nikiforova
Abstract
Purpose –With the development of information technology (IT), government s around the globe are using
state-of-the-art IT interfaces to implement the so-called 3E’s in public service delivery, that is, economy,
efficiency and effectiveness. Two of these IT int erfaces relate to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things
(IoT). While AI focuses on providing a ‘‘human’’ garb for computing de vices, thereby making them ‘‘intelligent’’
devices, IoT relies on interfaces between sensors and the environment to make ‘‘intelligent’’ decisions.
Recently, the convergence of AI and IoT –also referred to as Artificial Intelli gence of Things (AIoT) –is seen as
a real opportunity to refurbish the public service d elivery formats. However, there is limited understanding as to
how AIoT could contribute to the improvisation of publ ic service delivery. This study aims to create a modular
framework for AIoTin addition to highlighting the drivers and barriers for its integrationin the public sector.
Design/methodology/approach –This descriptive-explanatory study takes a qualitative approach. It
entails a thoroughexamination of the drivers and barriersof integrating AI and IoT in the public sector.A
review of literaturehas led to the development of a conceptualframework outlining the various factorsthat
contributeto creating public value.
Findings –Value creationoccurs when AI and IoT coalescein the public service delivery mechanisms.
Originality/value –AIoT is a cutting-edge technology revolutionizing health care, agriculture,
infrastructureand all other industrial domains. This study adds to the growing body of knowledge on the
public sector’s use of AI and IoT. Understanding these disruptive technologies is critical to formulating
policiesand regulations that can maximize the potentialbenefits for the public-sector organizations.
Keywords AIoT, Artificial Internet of Things, Internet of Things, IoT, Artificial Intelligence, AI,
Public sector, Public service delivery, Drivers, Barriers
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Information technology (IT) interfaces have found applications across a diverse set of sectors –
public and private. The public sector is tapping IT interfaces to improvise its administrative
activities besides bringing about the economy, efficiency and effectiveness in public service
delivery. Of late, with the emergence of the novel techniques and tools in IT like Artificial
Intelligence (AI), which is better defined in terms of the “human” capabilities of the computer
systems, and the Internet of Things (IoT), which is defined as the environment–computer
interaction through sensors, the public sector is poised to adopt these state-of-the-art IT
interfaces, especially the convergence of AI and IoT or what is better termed as the Artificial
Intelligence of Things (AIoT). Extant literature on the AIoT focuses on the technical dimensions
of AIoT (Ullah et al., 2022;Wang et al., 2021a,2021b;Xu et al., 2021;Yu et al., 2022) while
discounting the possible implications for the different economic and social sectors. The
present study seeks to plug this gap by addressing three research questions:
Fredrick R. Ishengoma is
based at the University of
Dodoma, Dodoma, United
Republic of Tanzania.
Deo Shao is based at the
Department of Computer
Science, University of
Dodoma, Dodoma, United
Republic of Tanzania.
Charalampos Alexopoulos
is based at the Department
of Information and
Communication Systems
Engineering, University of
the Aegean, Mytilene,
Greece. Stuti Saxena is
based at the Department of
Humanities and Social
Sciences, Graphic Era
Deemed to be University,
Dehradun, India.
Anastasija Nikiforova is
based at the Institute of
Computer Science, Tartu
Ulikool, Tartu, Estonia.
Received 18 June 2022
Revised 6 September 2022
Accepted 7 September 2022
DOI 10.1108/DPRG-06-2022-0067 VOL. 24 NO. 5 2022, pp. 449-462, ©Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2398-5038 jDIGITAL POLICY, REGULATION AND GOVERNANCE jPAGE 449
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