AI in the Public Sector: Trends, Challenges, and Practical Strategies

Description

Artificial intelligence is evolving at a rapid pace, reshaping how public servants work, communicate, and make decisions. But with new opportunities come new challenges—how should government employees navigate AI responsibly? How can they use AI effectively in their day-to-day work?

This half-day session, led by will provide public servants with a clear, practical understanding of AI in 2025. The session is divided into two key themes:

• Latest AI Trends – What is happening in AI right now, and what does it mean for public servants? This session will cover the most important developments in Generative AI and how governments are responding with emerging guidance for employees, based on the latest research from the Institute on Governance.
• Working with Your AI: The Art of Prompt Engineering – AI is only as good as the prompts it is given. Learn how to get better results from Generative AI by mastering prompt engineering techniques and understanding different Human-AI collaboration models.

This session is designed for public servants at all levels—whether you are just starting to explore AI or already experimenting with it in your work. Walk away with insights you can use immediately to navigate the risks, harness the opportunities, and work smarter with AI.

Duration:

• 3 hours, including brief intervals to ensure continuous engagement and learning absorption.

Facilitators

John Stroud is a strategic adviser to leaders on linking people with technology. His vision opens people’s minds to new possibilities, and he challenges them to consider creative options. People turn to John for plainspoken, easy-to-understand explanations.

John is a certified OpenExO consultant in exponential technologies. Prior to launching AI Guides, John served as Vice President, Strategy at a federal crown corporation ($600M budget and 8000+ workforce) with responsibilities for Governance, Human Resources, Communications, Legal, Performance Measurement and Risk.

John obtained his Masters of Philosophy from Oxford, his law degree and Masters of Public Administration from the University of Victoria, and his BA from the University of Toronto. He also obtained his ICD.D for completing the Director’s Education Program at the Institute of Corporate Directors.

Jen Schellinck is the principal of Sysabee and an adjunct professor at Carleton’s Institute of Cognitive Science. She founded Sysabee in 2012 with the goal of taking analysis techniques from machine learning and systems modeling and making these available to organizations who are seeking to gain the benefits of technology supported analysis and decision making. For each project, she draws from a pool of expert consultants to create a team customized to the specific needs of the project. She is also the founding member of the Data Science Experts Group, an association of data professionals that build flexible, customized solutions for data-driven companies and organizations. She remains an active participant in academic research via Carleton’s Cognitive Modeling Lab.