The rise of algorithmic governance and the dual revolution

Applications, challenges, and governance of artificial intelligence in public administration

Bibliographic Data

ID7474530
AuthorsChunning Wang (0009-0005-6812-475X, Macao Polytechnic University), Yifen Yin (0000-0002-9551-1537, Macao Polytechnic University), Haoqian Hu (0009-0005-8844-438X, Macao Polytechnic University, corresponding author)
Year2026
Volume86
Pages103264
Publication date2026-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueTechnology in Society (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0160-791X • E-ISSN: 1879-3274
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.techsoc.2026.103264
OpenAlexW7128593721
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited109

Artificial intelligence (AI) is penetrating the domain of public administration with unprecedented depth and breadth, acting as both a powerful tool for enhancing government efficiency and a profound challenge to traditional democratic values and governance structures. To comprehensively understand its application roles, core challenges, and future governance pathways, this paper conducts a systematic literature review to construct and provide robust empirical support and systematic theoretical elucidation for a “tool-paradigm dual revolution” analytical framework. Following the PRISMA guidelines, we performed a systematic literature search and multi-stage screening of the Web of Science database, ultimately including 694 core articles for thematic synthesis. Our analysis reveals that AI plays a dual role in public administration. As a “tool”, it significantly enhances administrative efficiency in specific domains. However, its deep application is precipitating a “paradigm revolution” that systematically challenges core public values such as fairness, accountability, and justice by reshaping power relations and decision-making logic. Our framework reveals how the pursuit of tool-level efficiency endogenously and inevitably triggers paradigm-level power restructuring and value conflicts, particularly the problems of algorithmic bias and broken chains of accountability. The paper concludes that the introduction of AI in public administration is a profound governance transformation, the success of which depends not on the technology itself, but on the ability to construct a robust democratic accountability and ethical regulatory framework centered on “meaningful human control” and “data justice” to ensure that technological development consistently serves the public interest.

Administration (probate law · Corporate governance · Dual (grammatical number · Information governance · Project governance · Artificial Intelligence Applications · Ethics and Social Impacts of AI · Smart Cities and Technologies