Impact analysis AI for provinces and water authorities

The new European AI Regulation is set to impact all levels of government, as revealed by a recent impact analysis focusing on Dutch provinces and water authorities. The analysis, which follows a similar study for municipalities, highlights the steps these entities must take to responsibly implement AI. It also provides insights into the considerations necessary for deploying AI ethically and effectively within their operations. The study emphasizes that even though provinces and water authorities are typically AI users rather than providers, they still face regulatory obligations. These include staff training, oversight, incident reporting, and assessing the impact on fundamental rights for high-risk AI applications. While providers bear the most significant responsibilities, users cannot simply disregard these new requirements. Implementing the AI Regulation requires organizational adjustments, such as risk assessments, monitoring, logging, and internal controls. Provinces and water authorities will also need to modify their procurement processes. However, these changes also present opportunities to foster responsible AI use and encourage innovation. The study also highlights the importance of collaboration among government bodies, enabling them to pool knowledge and resources. This impact analysis is part of a broader initiative to assess the feasibility of implementing the AI Regulation across various levels of government. Further research is underway to evaluate the organizational impact and associated costs, with the project scheduled for completion in 2026. The findings underscore the ongoing effort to navigate the evolving landscape of AI regulation and its implications for public sector entities.