How AI is Emerging in GovTech: A Guide for Future-Ready Public Sector Finance Teams
Artificial intelligence is no longer a theoretical conversation in government. Across North America, public sector leaders are moving past the novelty phase and asking more practical questions: Where can AI actually help? What risks need to be managed? And how do we adopt it responsibly without disrupting critical services?
The State of AI in the Public Sector report from Euna Solutions® captures this pivotal moment. Based on insights from 58 public sector finance and operations leaders, the report offers a clear, grounded view of how agencies are approaching AI today, where momentum is building, and what’s standing in the way.
From Curiosity to Capability
The findings reveal a significant gap between interest and execution. While 57% of agencies are still exploring and learning about AI, only 16% are piloting small projects, and just 1.6% report broad deployment. Leaders are growing less skeptical about AI’s ability to help, but they are still cautious. Security risks, policy uncertainty, legacy systems, and limited staff capacity continue to slow progress.
What’s clear is that hesitation isn’t rooted in resistance. It’s structural. Agencies want to move forward, but they need the right foundations in place to do so safely and effectively.
Where AI Delivers Real Value for Government Operations
This report makes one thing unmistakable: the earliest wins aren’t flashy generative tools; they’re operational improvements. Public sector leaders see the most promise where complexity, volume, and staffing pressure collide.
Top use cases for AI in government include:
- Procurement RFP and project assistance, reducing drafting time and cycle delays
- Forecasting and scenario planning, strengthening budget accuracy and strategic decision-making
- Grants research and matching, cutting through thousands of funding opportunities faster
These functions are high-volume, rules-based, and mission-critical, making them prime candidates for AI that saves time, improves accuracy, and removes friction from daily workflows.
Time Saved is the Ultimate KPI
When asked how they’ll measure AI success, agencies didn’t point to model sophistication or cost savings alone. They pointed to time. Staff hours saved emerged as the top KPI by far, followed by compliance improvements and faster processing times.
In an environment where public sector teams are stretched thin, success is measured in minutes and hours gained back.
A Practical Path Forward for AI Adoption
The State of AI in the Public Sector report outlines a realistic, responsible approach to adoption:
- Start with integrated workflows, not standalone tools
- Build governance and policy before scaling
- Focus on low-risk, high-volume processes first
- Measure success through time saved, accuracy gains, and workload reduction
AI is becoming part of government’s next generation of digital infrastructure. The agencies that move thoughtfully now—learning, piloting, and building confidence with partners like Euna Solutions—will be better positioned to scale when the ecosystem is ready.
Download The Report