Artificial Intelligence Adoption in Public Administration: An Overview of Top-Cited Articles and Practical Applications

Background: The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in public administration (PA) has the potential to enhance transparency, efficiency, and responsiveness, ultimately creating greater public value. However, the integration of AI into PA faces challenges, including conceptual ambiguities and limited knowledge of the practical applications. This study addresses these gaps by offering an overview and categorization of AI research and applications in PA. Methods: Using a dataset of 3149 documents from the Scopus database, this study identifies the top 200 most-cited articles based on citation per year. It conducts descriptive and content analyses to identify the existing state, applications, and challenges regarding AI adoption. Additionally, selected AI use cases from the European Commission’s database are categorized, focusing on their contributions to public value. The analysis centers on three governance dimensions: internal processes, service delivery, and policymaking. Results: The findings provide a categorized understanding of AI concepts, types, and applications in PA, alongside a discussion of best practices and challenges. Conclusion: This study serves as a resource for researchers seeking a comprehensive overview of the current state of AI in PA and offers policymakers and practitioners insights into leveraging AI technologies to improve service delivery and operational efficiency.