Transparency and GenAI
Be open with your people and the public about why and how you’re using generative artificial intelligence (GenAI). Public service agencies need to be able to explain what information goes into AI systems and what the results are used for.
This guidance is aligned with the following OECD AI principle:
Use GenAI ethically in the public service
It’s vital that public service agencies use GenAI ethically. The public service is held to the highest standards of trust and confidence, so consider how you and your team can build trust at all stages.
Be open about why and how you’re using GenAI
Be transparent to the public about when and how you’re using AI. Explain why and how it’s being used.
A lack of transparency can lead to harmful outcomes, public distrust, and no-one being responsible for the final decision. Transparency involves communicating clearly that you’re using AI and why you’re using it.
Commit to ethical and transparent use of GenAI
When you use GenAI, you need to be able to explain and take responsibility for your decisions. Even though the technology helps you, you’re still in charge of the final decision. This means you should know how GenAI works and what information it uses to make suggestions.
Create clear policies
Outline when GenAI can be used and when it cannot. Have clear policies around the use of emerging technology. These policies should also include how the public can challenge any outcomes that involve the use of GenAI systems.
Have processes in place
Clear processes can help you respond to requests about how and why you’re using GenAI. Be sure you can access or correct information if requested to do so.
Publish your agency’s GenAI use
We strongly recommend publishing an up-to-date register of all GenAI use in your agency. This is a commitment to transparency – and helps to connect with other government agencies on how GenAI is being used. For guidance on what to publish, see the section on Governance.
You’re thinking about using a GenAI system to help produce a report for your manager. The report will help inform important decision-making that will impact a community.
Before using the GenAI system, you check your agency’s policies and record your use of GenAI in the public register. You also note what data you put into the system and what you used the outputs for. You’re using an enterprise GenAI system, and you know your agency has good information management to handle sensitive data. You’re confident the data was used correctly to generate the output.
As you get used to how GenAI works, you can explain how the outputs were made. You talk with your manager about using AI in the report, clearly marking the parts generated by AI and confirming you checked the content for accuracy according to your agency’s rules.
More information — GenAI transparency and explainability
- AI governance introduction — AI Forum New Zealand
- AI Fundamentals for Public Servants: Opportunities, Risks and Strategies — Apolitical
- GenAI guardrails made simple — Simply Privacy
Related guidance
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