The Role of AI in the Transformation of Policy Work
The final PoliRuralPlus webinar of 2025, “The Role of AI in the Transformation of Policy Work,” took place on December 19th at 10:00 CET, led by Patrick Crehan (CKA). The session explored how Artificial Intelligence is reshaping the world of work, particularly within public administration and rural policy, and called for a more ethical, balanced, and sustainable approach to AI integration.
Context and Key Themes
Patrick Crehan opened by examining the growing dissatisfaction within the workforce, noting that AI is often used to justify layoffs or increased workloads rather than to improve well-being or efficiency. He linked this trend to broader structural issues exposed by COVID-19, remote work, burnout, and changing job dynamics, all of which have blurred the boundaries between public and private employment sectors.
Challenges in Policy Work
Local governments, Crehan argued, face an escalating workload: from meeting EU climate targets and biodiversity mandates to managing information overload across multiple legislative domains. To address this “blizzard of responsibilities,” he proposed innovative methods such as Work Awareness Journaling and Task Discovery, practical tools that help identify repetitive or frustrating activities suitable for automation or AI assistance.
AI Tools for Smarter Governance
Three AI tools developed within PoliRuralPlus were presented as part of this ongoing innovation effort:
- Vulture – an experimental AI design environment for managing information and email workflows;
- Advisor – a retrieval-augmented AI for funding discovery and policy support;
- JackDaw – a platform linking statistical and economic data to interactive maps for informed regional planning.
These tools embody the project’s vision of AI as a supporting collaborator, not a replacement for human expertise.
Ethics, Risks, and Broader Implications
Crehan also addressed the ethical and systemic challenges surrounding AI adoption, including resource use, environmental costs, circular financing, and labor exploitation in data supply chains. He drew on investigations by Karen Hao and others to highlight the need for transparency, accountability, and sustainability in AI-driven governance.
Conclusions and Next Steps
The session closed with a clear message: technology alone cannot solve institutional and social issues. Sustainable transformation requires not only technical innovation but also cultural and managerial change. Participants were invited to continue exploring the PoliRuralPlus AI tools, contribute to ongoing pilots, and engage in shaping future-ready regional policy processes.
“We must ensure AI serves people, not the other way around, supporting better governance, greater inclusion, and a sustainable future.”
— Patrick Crehan, CKA
👉 Follow the PoliRuralPlus Tools Webinar Series through our website and social media channels to explore more on how AI and geospatial intelligence are transforming regional innovation and policy-making.