AI Government Modernization Agenda

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AI Government Modernization Agenda

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The German government is ramping up its use of artificial intelligence across public administration, courts, and digital infrastructure as part of a sweeping "Modernization Agenda" approved by Chancellor Friedrich Merz's cabinet, as Deutsche Welle (DW) reported. The plan aims to cut bureaucracy costs by 25 percent by 2029 and expand online public services, including using AI to review visa applications and streamline export documentation. Digitalization Minister Karsten Wildberger, who is leading the initiative, called AI "the key to future growth," warning that Germany risks "being left behind" if it fails to adopt AI broadly and responsibly. AI is already being used by Deutsche Bahn, Germany's national railway, and at the municipal level, where cities like Cologne and Munich are testing AI for traffic management and waste collection. Baden-Württemberg's government uses ChatGPT to optimize administrative workflows. The push follows July's "High-Tech Agenda" from Research Minister Dorothee Bär, which named AI among six core technologies Germany will promote. A more visible example of this strategy is the "Weimatar" — an AI avatar of State Minister for Culture and Media Wolfram Weimer that can speak 100 languages and assist with public communication and internal training. However, experts have cautioned against overreliance on generative AI tools. Holger Hoos, a professor of AI at RWTH Aachen University, told DW that policymakers must ensure AI adoption is guided by science, not industry interests. He and other researchers have warned of the risks of bias, inaccuracy, and ethical lapses if AI systems are deployed without sufficient oversight. Critics have also questioned a recent partnership between Germany's SAP and U.S.-based OpenAI, arguing it could compromise the country's technological independence. "Public money should be used to build up EU and German AI capabilities," Hoos said.