Toward developing a Social Impact Assessment for AI in the public sector (SIA4AI) framework: key design considerations

Samaneh Bagheri, Vanessa Dirksen
Proceedings of Fourth European Workshop on Algorithmic Fairness, PMLR 294:351-356, 2025.

Abstract

The rapid development and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems in the public sector necessitate a structured approach to assess their societal impacts. This research focuses on identifying key design considerations for a Social Impact Assessment for AI (SIA4AI) framework tailored to AI’s unique challenges and opportunities in the public sector. We address the limitations of existing AI impact assessment methodologies, which often take a top-down approach, focusing primarily on technical and ethical concerns while overlooking broader societal implications. Through an analysis of different assessment methodologies, we identify key design considerations to guide the development of a SIA4AI framework. This framework aims to ensure AI systems align with the values and priorities of diverse citizen groups, particularly vulnerable social groups, to promote societal benefits and mitigate potential harms of AI systems in the public sector.

Cite this Paper

BibTeX
@InProceedings{pmlr-v294-bagheri25a, title = {Toward developing a Social Impact Assessment for AI in the public sector (SIA4AI) framework: key design considerations}, author = {Bagheri, Samaneh and Dirksen, Vanessa}, booktitle = {Proceedings of Fourth European Workshop on Algorithmic Fairness}, pages = {351--356}, year = {2025}, editor = {Weerts, Hilde and Pechenizkiy, Mykola and Allhutter, Doris and Corrêa, Ana Maria and Grote, Thomas and Liem, Cynthia}, volume = {294}, series = {Proceedings of Machine Learning Research}, month = {30 Jun--02 Jul}, publisher = {PMLR}, pdf = {https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mlresearch/v294/main/assets/bagheri25a/bagheri25a.pdf}, url = {https://proceedings.mlr.press/v294/bagheri25a.html}, abstract = {The rapid development and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems in the public sector necessitate a structured approach to assess their societal impacts. This research focuses on identifying key design considerations for a Social Impact Assessment for AI (SIA4AI) framework tailored to AI’s unique challenges and opportunities in the public sector. We address the limitations of existing AI impact assessment methodologies, which often take a top-down approach, focusing primarily on technical and ethical concerns while overlooking broader societal implications. Through an analysis of different assessment methodologies, we identify key design considerations to guide the development of a SIA4AI framework. This framework aims to ensure AI systems align with the values and priorities of diverse citizen groups, particularly vulnerable social groups, to promote societal benefits and mitigate potential harms of AI systems in the public sector.} }
Endnote
%0 Conference Paper %T Toward developing a Social Impact Assessment for AI in the public sector (SIA4AI) framework: key design considerations %A Samaneh Bagheri %A Vanessa Dirksen %B Proceedings of Fourth European Workshop on Algorithmic Fairness %C Proceedings of Machine Learning Research %D 2025 %E Hilde Weerts %E Mykola Pechenizkiy %E Doris Allhutter %E Ana Maria Corrêa %E Thomas Grote %E Cynthia Liem %F pmlr-v294-bagheri25a %I PMLR %P 351--356 %U https://proceedings.mlr.press/v294/bagheri25a.html %V 294 %X The rapid development and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems in the public sector necessitate a structured approach to assess their societal impacts. This research focuses on identifying key design considerations for a Social Impact Assessment for AI (SIA4AI) framework tailored to AI’s unique challenges and opportunities in the public sector. We address the limitations of existing AI impact assessment methodologies, which often take a top-down approach, focusing primarily on technical and ethical concerns while overlooking broader societal implications. Through an analysis of different assessment methodologies, we identify key design considerations to guide the development of a SIA4AI framework. This framework aims to ensure AI systems align with the values and priorities of diverse citizen groups, particularly vulnerable social groups, to promote societal benefits and mitigate potential harms of AI systems in the public sector.
APA
Bagheri, S. & Dirksen, V.. (2025). Toward developing a Social Impact Assessment for AI in the public sector (SIA4AI) framework: key design considerations. Proceedings of Fourth European Workshop on Algorithmic Fairness, in Proceedings of Machine Learning Research 294:351-356 Available from https://proceedings.mlr.press/v294/bagheri25a.html.

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