AI and Open Government Data: Economic Transparency and Market Competitiveness: A Mixed Methods Study

BACKGROUND This paper examined the influence artificial intelligence (AI) on open government data (OGD) in improving economic transparency and facilitation of competition. MATERIALS AND METHODS The mixed-methods study relied on the contextual assessment and comparative analysis of seven (N = 7) countries: United States, Brazil, Singapore, the European Union (EU), China, India, and Japan, which were elected to provide an equal representation of developed and developing economies. The research is based on a qualitative desk-based comparative policy analysis, focusing on how different national strategies integrate AI and OGD to improve business accountability and performance. RESULTS The contextual analysis revealed that AI-based OGD enabled fast and cost-efficient data processing, which was subsequently used to make strategic decisions, enhancing organizational performance and competitiveness. The case of Singapore suggested that AI-based tools processed up to 3 million transactions daily, while the European Union case stressed that such processing could detect up to USD 2.7 billion in fraudulent activities. The contextual analysis further revealed that OGD policies provided equal access to data, which was particularly helpful for small and medium enterprises that, otherwise, lacked resources to make competitive business decisions. The countries in the sample were further compared in terms of their Artificial Intelligence Maturity Capability Index that included such parameters as AI readiness, AI talent, and AI infrastructure. The comparative analysis revealed that countries differed considerably in terms of their readiness to adopt AI-based solutions in OGD: with the United States having the highest score of 92.4 and Brazil getting the lowest score of 49.85. CONCLUSION Based on the comparative analysis, it was recommended to strengthen existing policies and regulative frameworks, increase investment in digital infrastructure and data ecosystems, and foster public-private partnerships in AI and OGD adaptation. The following recommendations can be used to support the use of AI-based OGD in promoting business transparency and competitiveness.