Ethical governance of artificial intelligence in public administration: an integrative literature review (2021–2025)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36517/contextus.2026.96781Keywords:
artificial intelligence; generative AI; public administration; ethical governance; citizen trust.Abstract
Context: Artificial Intelligence (AI), particularly generative AI, has emerged as a transformative force in Public Administration, promising enhanced operational efficiency while posing significant risks to administrative discretion and equity.
Objective: This study aims to examine how recent scholarly literature (2021–2025) addresses and advances approaches to the ethical governance of AI in the public sector through an integrative literature review.
Method: Following Fink’s (2014) methodological protocol, 22 high-impact articles indexed in the Web of Science database were systematically reviewed and analyzed.
Results: The findings indicate a rapid expansion of scholarly interest in the topic, structured around three major thematic dimensions: (i) the tension between algorithmic efficiency and human judgment; (ii) delayed regulatory responses to the opacity of automated systems; and (iii) the central role of citizen trust as a critical indicator of success. The bibliometric analysis further reveals a multipolar geopolitics of knowledge production, with China and Brazil emerging as prominent contributors to the development of pragmatic approaches to governance and oversight.
Conclusions: This study contributes to the literature by proposing foundational guidelines for the implementation of AI in the public sector. The findings suggest that ensuring the ethical use of AI in public administration depends not only on technological solutions but also on digital literacy and the development of a hybrid governance ecosystem that integrates regulatory frameworks, technical auditing mechanisms, and mandatory human oversight (human-in-the-loop) in critical decision-making processes.
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