Ambassador Kristjan Prikk on how Estonia is embracing AI for proactive citizen services

Kristjan Prikk, Estonia’s Ambassador to the U.S., discussed the evolution of AI in government services. Initially, Estonia moved from physical to digital services and then to proactive digital services using AI. The goal is to have digital clones of citizens that proactively deliver relevant services. AI is also used extensively in crisis management, defense and tax collection to improve decision-making and detect fraud. Estonia emphasizes experimentation and adaptation, accepting that not all AI applications will be perfect. The country is also developing a cross-government AI data management tool to streamline data access for citizens, regardless of the agency of origin.