Responsible AI for Public Professionals

Scaling AI in Your Organization

This course is designed for decision makers, organization leaders, and those interested in helping their teams responsibly adopt AI, select and prioritize AI projects.

Start Learning! Download course flyer

Through a combination of clear explanations, real-world examples, and practical guidance, the course covers key topics such as:

Different AI approaches
Selecting and scaling impactful AI projects
Ensuring data quality
Developing AI talent
Navigating ethical considerations and risk management practices

By the end of the course, participants will have a solid foundation for confidently leading their organizations into the age of AI, harnessing its power to improve public services and decision-making while maintaining public trust and promoting responsible AI use.

Course contents are screen reader-friendly and all videos include English closed captions.

At-your-own pace

Designed for public professionals and anyone interested in leveraging AI responsibly in their work

The course is in plain, non-technical language and available in English

Course materials tailored to the government sector

Course curriculum

1. Course overview

This module introduces the course "Responsible AI for Public Sector Professionals: Scaling AI in your organization" and provides an overview of the key topics covered, including different AI approaches, selecting impactful projects, ensuring data quality, developing AI talent, and navigating ethical considerations and risk management practices. The module emphasizes the potential of AI to revolutionize public sector operations and the importance of government leaders making informed decisions about AI implementation while maintaining public trust.

2. Overview of AI approaches

This module provides a comprehensive introduction to artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and generative AI. It explores the three main approaches to machine learning (supervised learning, unsupervised learning, and reinforcement learning) and the crucial decision of choosing the right algorithm for an AI project. The module also discusses the differences between generative AI and traditional machine learning, highlighting the accessibility and challenges of generative AI.

3. Surfacing and selecting AI projects for scale

This module focuses on identifying and prioritizing AI projects that deliver meaningful results for the organization and the public. It presents three methods for recognizing business challenges that could benefit from AI solutions. The module also explores the criteria for evaluating and selecting AI projects and the pivotal role of pilot programs in validating AI projects before wider-scale deployments.

4. AI foundations: Data quality

This module emphasizes the critical role of data quality in AI projects, explaining why it is especially impactful for AI systems. It defines data quality in the public sector and discusses the impact of data quality issues on AI projects. The module also explores the common causes of data quality issues in public sector organizations and provides practical steps for improving data quality for responsible and ethical AI deployment.

5. AI foundations: People & talent

This module discusses the importance of understanding different types of AI organizations and their talent needs for making informed decisions about an organization's AI strategy. It explores the key competencies required for AI talent, particularly in the critical role of data scientist, and discusses the collaborative effort required from various teams. The module also presents three main avenues for developing an AI-ready workforce.

6. Ethical risk frameworks and toolkits

This module introduces the critical importance of robust AI risk management and the role of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF) in ensuring responsible and safe AI deployment. It explores the seven key characteristics of trustworthy AI and the four functions outlined in the AI RMF that can help reduce risk and maximize benefits. The module also discusses the unique risks posed by Generative AI (GenAI) and provides practical next steps for implementing AI risk management in an organization.

7. Conclusion

The conclusion module summarizes the key learning points from the course and emphasizes the importance of focusing on solving real problems, maintaining transparency, minimizing and managing AI risk, and prioritizing the public good. It highlights the crucial role of government leaders in shaping the future of AI in the public sector and the importance of continuous learning, collaboration, and adaptation to navigate the evolving AI landscape with confidence.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.