Investment aims to change public’s mindset on AI and new technologies, says Mario Cutajar

The next phase in the digital transformation of the public administration is to invest in changing the public’s mindset when it comes to AI and new technologies, said Principal Permanent Secretary Mario Cutajar at a seminar on AI and the Digital Transformation of the Public Administration yesterday.

“The client is the centre of everything and, therefore, this is the most important element the Digital Hub must adopt.” Cutajar said that ministries can transform their work through AI and the use of the Digital Hub to transform the public service.

He said that over the past six years the government has always highlighted the importance of the public service. “We push to remain first when it comes to Egovernment and our investment in AI technology, and we continue to emphasise this transformation of the public administration,” said Cutajar. He said it is in the government’s interest to place the customer’s needs first and to work towards a better public service.

He explained that digital transformation and AI will lead to resistance, pointing out that the biggest hurdle was people’s mindset. The government must invest in educating people to enable them to change their mindset. He explained that after adopting such a service, customers must be ready to use and take on the service, which is the biggest challenge. “AI will change the way our public services are run and works towards providing the best service. There is huge potential with the digitalisation of our public administration and putting our customers at the forefront of our service.”

“We evaluate our service so as to become aware of where we went right and wrong, to make sure we know where we stand to be able to improve the public services in the future.” He pointed out that the advancement in technology is a fastpaced development and that the country must be prepared for the changes that digitalisation will bring to society. “That is why we must be prepared to face these challenges and for the public to also understand them and to take on the digital transformation of our services and society,” Cutajar said.