AI Public Dialogues: Understanding Public Perspectives on AI in Government Missions

Jessica Montgomery; Hopkins Van Mil

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AI Public Dialogues: Understanding Public Perspectives on AI in Government Missions

Jessica Montgomery, Hopkins Van Mil

, ai@cam , 2026.

Abstract

This report presents findings from public dialogue workshops conducted in Liverpool and Cambridge to understand public perspectives on the role of AI in delivering the UK Government’s Missions. Focusing on crime and policing, education, energy and net zero, and health, the dialogues reveal public aspirations for AI in public services and highlight necessary interventions to ensure AI delivers public benefit while maintaining appropriate safeguards.

The dialogues revealed insights into public expectations for AI in government missions:

Public participants want greater transparency around AI usage in public services
Governance should prioritize public benefit over profit in AI applications
Independent regulatory bodies need appropriate powers to influence AI implementation
Collaborative and user-centered design practices are essential to reduce bias
Data sharing regulations must balance privacy protection with enabling public benefit
Robust security systems are required to prevent AI-related cyber threats and fraud

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Cite this Paper

BibTeX


@Misc{publications/ai-public-dialogues-understanding-public-perspectives-on-ai-in-government-missions,
  title = 	 {AI Public Dialogues: Understanding Public Perspectives on AI in Government Missions},
  author = 	 {Montgomery, Jessica and {Hopkins Van Mil}},
  year = 	 {2026},
  publisher =    {ai@cam},
  url = 	 {/publications/ai-public-dialogues-understanding-public-perspectives-on-ai-in-government-missions.html},
  abstract = 	 {This report presents findings from public dialogue workshops conducted in Liverpool and Cambridge to understand public perspectives on the role of AI in delivering the UK Government’s Missions. Focusing on crime and policing, education, energy and net zero, and health, the dialogues reveal public aspirations for AI in public services and highlight necessary interventions to ensure AI delivers public benefit while maintaining appropriate safeguards.

The dialogues revealed insights into public expectations for AI in government missions:

* Public participants want greater transparency around AI usage in public services
* Governance should prioritize public benefit over profit in AI applications
* Independent regulatory bodies need appropriate powers to influence AI implementation
* Collaborative and user-centered design practices are essential to reduce bias
* Data sharing regulations must balance privacy protection with enabling public benefit
* Robust security systems are required to prevent AI-related cyber threats and fraud}
}

Endnote

%0 Generic
%T AI Public Dialogues: Understanding Public Perspectives on AI in Government Missions
%A Jessica Montgomery
%A Hopkins Van Mil
%D 2026	
%F publications/ai-public-dialogues-understanding-public-perspectives-on-ai-in-government-missions
%I ai@cam
%U /publications/ai-public-dialogues-understanding-public-perspectives-on-ai-in-government-missions.html
%X This report presents findings from public dialogue workshops conducted in Liverpool and Cambridge to understand public perspectives on the role of AI in delivering the UK Government’s Missions. Focusing on crime and policing, education, energy and net zero, and health, the dialogues reveal public aspirations for AI in public services and highlight necessary interventions to ensure AI delivers public benefit while maintaining appropriate safeguards.

The dialogues revealed insights into public expectations for AI in government missions:

* Public participants want greater transparency around AI usage in public services
* Governance should prioritize public benefit over profit in AI applications
* Independent regulatory bodies need appropriate powers to influence AI implementation
* Collaborative and user-centered design practices are essential to reduce bias
* Data sharing regulations must balance privacy protection with enabling public benefit
* Robust security systems are required to prevent AI-related cyber threats and fraud

RIS


TY  - GEN
TI  - AI Public Dialogues: Understanding Public Perspectives on AI in Government Missions
AU  - Jessica Montgomery
AU  - Hopkins Van Mil
DA  - 2026/09/29	
ID  - publications/ai-public-dialogues-understanding-public-perspectives-on-ai-in-government-missions
PB  - ai@cam
UR  - /publications/ai-public-dialogues-understanding-public-perspectives-on-ai-in-government-missions.html
AB  - This report presents findings from public dialogue workshops conducted in Liverpool and Cambridge to understand public perspectives on the role of AI in delivering the UK Government’s Missions. Focusing on crime and policing, education, energy and net zero, and health, the dialogues reveal public aspirations for AI in public services and highlight necessary interventions to ensure AI delivers public benefit while maintaining appropriate safeguards.

The dialogues revealed insights into public expectations for AI in government missions:

* Public participants want greater transparency around AI usage in public services
* Governance should prioritize public benefit over profit in AI applications
* Independent regulatory bodies need appropriate powers to influence AI implementation
* Collaborative and user-centered design practices are essential to reduce bias
* Data sharing regulations must balance privacy protection with enabling public benefit
* Robust security systems are required to prevent AI-related cyber threats and fraud
ER  -

APA


Montgomery, J. & Hopkins Van Mil. (2026). AI Public Dialogues: Understanding Public Perspectives on AI in Government Missions.  Available from /publications/ai-public-dialogues-understanding-public-perspectives-on-ai-in-government-missions.html.

Related People

Jess Montgomery

Director, ai@cam and Accelerate Science, Cambridge University

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Related Projects

Public Dialogue and AI

Our work examines how public dialogue can contribute to the democratic direction of AI and to better technological and institutional choices. It asks how societal priorities can be surfaced early enough to influence research and innovation; how public perspectives can inform decisions about AI adoption; and how institutions can develop the capacity to continue listening and responding as technologies and their uses change.