Digital Transformation Insights from an AI Solution in Search of a Problem.

Countries are adopting artificial intelligence (AI) at a fast rate. This paper analyses the digital transformation lessons from a validation process for a design that proposes modifying an existing internal decision support system that currently aids counsellors internally at the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund into a public facing e-service through implementation with another AI enabled government application. The methodology is qualitative with document review, analysis of secondary data, and interviews with experts and stakeholders. The end results indicate that it would be possible to modify an existing system and integrate it to an already existing system in Estonia but that this may not have public value to the citizens. Authors provide an architectural recommendation and discuss the validation results which yield insight into the considerations of the Estonian Government’s tactics and strategy for AI related digital transformation. Future research could include investigation of the digital transformation process of AI projects in Estonia.