Mexico’s Government Uses 119 AI Apps, but Transparency Is Lacking

Governments in Mexico use 119 AI applications in at least 107 daily projects, reveals a study by the Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas (CIDE). The Executive Branch is the largest user, mainly using chatbots for citizen attention and administrative tasks. However, the lack of transparency and clarity in their implementation poses significant challenges.

"Many public entities that we already knew had AI developments did not report them in transparency requests. This reflects a worrying opacity in the use of these technologies," says César Rentería, Researcher, CIDE.

The adoption of AI in the Mexican public sector has grown significantly in recent years, driven by the need to modernize processes and improve efficiency in citizen service. According to the study Adoption of AI in State Governments by the University of Guadalajara, AI will play a fundamental role in the digital transformation of the public sector in the future, driving key aspects such as efficiency and transparency, even though it faces challenges such as the lack of knowledge on the subject, the scarcity of infrastructure or legislation to integrate it efficiently.

"The adoption of AI in state governments has the potential to improve public services, but it must address concerns about citizen privacy and promote the training of public servants in its management," reads the study.

Globally, countries such as Colombia, the Netherlands, and the United States have implemented algorithm repositories to promote transparency in the use of AI. In Mexico, the CIDE study represents an effort in this direction, documenting AI applications in the three branches of government (federal, state and municipal). 

Details by Federal Branches

The Executive Branch is the main user of AI in Mexico, with 65 institutions employing these tools. At the federal level, applications such as the Automated Management and Archiving System of the General Archive of the Nation (AGN), designed for document management, stand out. 

States, municipalities, educational entities, and autonomous agencies have also adopted AI. The Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN) developed the Platform for Identification, Classification and Monitoring of Sensitive Information (PICIS), which uses AI algorithms to classify personal data. Meanwhile, the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) has the Ánimo Twittero application, which analyzes the sentiment of conversation on social networks.

In contrast, the Judicial and Legislative Branches are the ones that use AI the least. The Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation uses the chatbot Sor Juana to facilitate access to draft rulings, while the Chamber of Deputies uses a tool for monitoring legislative information.

Lack of Transparency and Misinformation

The study reports limited transparency in the use of AI. The researchers, as reported by El Economista, sent transparency requests to about 2,200 public entities, but many omitted information or responded inaccurately. In some cases, institutions only acknowledged the use of AI after filing appeals for review with transparency bodies. In states such as Mexico and Nayarit, the lack of response was widespread.

In addition, the study identified a problem of misinformation within the institutions themselves. Many agencies listed traditional software tools, such as office suites or cybersecurity programs, as if they were AI applications. In total, 223 reported applications did not meet the basic criteria to be considered AI. This misinformation, even among IT specialists, hinders the implementation of adequate regulations to govern the use of AI in the public sector.

According to El Economista, this scenario reveals the need to establish clear regulatory frameworks that regulate the use of these technologies and promote accountability. In addition, more training and awareness-raising among public officials is required to ensure that they understand what AI is and how it can be used ethically and effectively.

Internationally, algorithm repositories have proven to be a useful tool for fostering transparency, says the Forum for Public Administration, Management and Policy. Mexico could follow this example, but to do so it is essential to overcome the reluctance of institutions to share information and ensure that responses to transparency requests are accurate and complete.