Building Trust in AI for Public Administration: A Strategic Framework for Transparency, XAI, Participation, and Digital Literacy

This paper explores the critical factors influencing public trust in Artificial Intelligence (AI) within public administration, addressing the challenges of AI's opacity and the necessity for ethical deployment. Through a systematic literature review and thematic analysis, the study synthesizes existing knowledge to propose a comprehensive framework for balancing AI innovation with sustained public trust. The research investigates the synergistic roles of algorithmic transparency, Explainable AI (XAI), participatory governance, and digital literacy. Findings underscore the paramount importance of algorithmic transparency and XAI in mitigating the "black box" effect and fostering understandable decision-making processes. Furthermore, active citizen engagement through participatory governance, supported by enhanced digital literacy, is identified as crucial for ensuring AI applications reflect community values and serve the public interest. The study concludes that these elements are interconnected pillars essential for building a trustworthy AI ecosystem in public administration, advocating for a holistic, ethical, and citizen-centric approach to responsible AI implementation. The proposed framework offers a roadmap for public sector organizations to navigate the complexities of AI integration while upholding transparency, accountability, and democratic governance.