AI in government: which tasks to automate first
Updated
Across the 10 million US jobs in government, the work scores 41 of 100 for AI exposure, weighted by how many people do each job. AI can take on about 690 hours a year per full-time person, 35% of a working year. The task that frees the most hours across the industry is to record facts to prepare reports that document incidents and activities, about 53 hours a year for each person who does it.
- AI exposure, weighted by employment
- 41 out of 100 Moderate exposure
- Hours AI can take on
- 690 hours a year per full-time person
- Task time AI can do today
- 14% AI speeds up another 49%
Tasks to automate first
The 15 tasks where AI can take on the most hours across government: how exposed each task is, how much of the job it takes and how many people do that job. Hours are per person in the role that does the task. How we score each task.
| Task and who does it | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Record facts to prepare reports that document incidents and activities. AI drafts reports from bodycam audio; officer reviews and signs. Done by police officers. | 70% AI can do it 53 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Maintain records of prisoners' identification and charges. Recording IDs and charges is structured data entry AI handles well. Done by correctional officers. | 80% AI can do it 70 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Verify that the proper legal charges have been made against law offenders. AI can check charges against statutes; officer confirms accuracy. Done by police officers. | 50% AI helps 35 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Document findings of study and prepare recommendations for implementation of new systems, procedures, or organizational changes. AI drafts reports well, but findings and recommendations need expert judgment. Done by management consultants. | 62% AI helps 126 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Type, format, proofread, and edit correspondence and other documents, from notes or dictating machines, using computers or typewriters. Dictation, typing, formatting and proofreading are core AI strengths. Done by office clerks. | 80% AI can do it 92 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Review facts of incidents to determine if criminal act or statute violations were involved. AI can check facts against statutes; officer decides. Done by police officers. | 45% AI helps 33 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Compute, record, and proofread data and other information, such as records or reports. AI proofreads and checks data well; people spot-check output. Done by office clerks. | 72% AI can do it 88 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Record information, such as prisoner identification, charges, and incidents of inmate disturbance, keeping daily logs of prisoner activities. Routine logs and incident records are digital documentation AI can draft. Done by correctional officers. | 65% AI can do it 58 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Answer telephones, direct calls, and take messages. Voice AI can answer, route calls and take messages today. Done by office clerks. | 62% AI can do it 88 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Gather and organize information on problems or procedures. AI can summarize documents and sort notes, but gathering needs people. Done by management consultants. | 55% AI helps 118 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Record operational data, personnel attendance, or meter and gauge readings on specified forms. Routine recording of readings and attendance into forms is easily automated. Done by water treatment operators. | 80% AI can do it 216 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Analyze data gathered and develop solutions or alternative methods of proceeding. AI can rapidly analyze data and propose options; person chooses solutions. Done by management consultants. | 55% AI helps 117 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Review files, records, and other documents to obtain information to respond to requests. Document AI can search and summarize records to answer requests. Done by office clerks. | 68% AI can do it 87 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Evaluate complaint and emergency-request information to determine response requirements. AI can triage call priority; dispatcher and officer confirm. Done by police officers. | 45% AI helps 32 hours a year for each person in the role |
| Relay complaint and emergency-request information to appropriate agency dispatchers. Radio and call relay; AI can transcribe and route messages. Done by police officers. | 40% AI helps 29 hours a year for each person in the role |
What stays with people
37% of the task time across these roles needs a person, and the output of the rest still needs someone to check it. The tasks below take the most of that time.
- 14% AI can do it
- 49% AI helps
- 37% Needs a person
- Identify, pursue, and arrest suspects and perpetrators of criminal acts. Police officers, 8% exposed
- Provide for public safety by maintaining order, responding to emergencies, protecting people and property, enforcing motor vehicle and criminal laws, and promoting good community relations. Police officers, 12% exposed
- Render aid to accident survivors and other persons requiring first aid for physical injuries. Police officers, 5% exposed
- Monitor, note, report, and investigate suspicious persons and situations, safety hazards, and unusual or illegal activity in patrol area. Police officers, 12% exposed
- Testify in court to present evidence or act as witness in traffic and criminal cases. Police officers, 10% exposed
Adoption path
Start with the tasks where AI helps a person, then automate the routine ones, then give whole workflows to agents with a person approving the output.
Teams in this industry
The business functions in government, by share of the workforce, with each one's exposure.
Roles in government
The 20 largest roles, each linked to its task-by-task score. Shares come from the BLS industry staffing estimates, May 2025. Of the roles with at least 2% of the jobs, office clerks score highest at 60, firefighters lowest at 15.
- Police officers, 6.6% of the workforce, score 31 out of 100
- Correctional officers, 3.8% of the workforce, score 26 out of 100
- Firefighters, 3.3% of the workforce, score 15 out of 100
- Office clerks, 2.5% of the workforce, score 60 out of 100
- Secretaries, 1.9% of the workforce, score 66 out of 100
- Management consultants, 1.8% of the workforce, score 55 out of 100
- Court clerks, 1.8% of the workforce, score 62 out of 100
- Maintenance workers, 1.8% of the workforce, score 21 out of 100
- Nurses, 1.8% of the workforce, score 36 out of 100
- Lawyers, 1.7% of the workforce, score 48 out of 100
- Social workers, 1.6% of the workforce, score 41 out of 100
- Police supervisors, 1.5% of the workforce, score 36 out of 100
- Highway maintenance workers, 1.5% of the workforce, score 8 out of 100
- General managers, 1.5% of the workforce, score 44 out of 100
- Compliance officers, 1.5% of the workforce, score 58 out of 100
- Eligibility interviewers, 1.5% of the workforce, score 65 out of 100
- Administrative supervisors, 1.3% of the workforce, score 55 out of 100
- Accountants, 1.2% of the workforce, score 60 out of 100
- Detectives, 1.2% of the workforce, score 35 out of 100
- Recreation workers, 1.2% of the workforce, score 34 out of 100
Questions about AI in government
Which tasks should a public body automate first?
The first task to automate is to record facts to prepare reports that document incidents and activities (70% exposed). Next come the tasks to maintain records of prisoners' identification and charges (80%) and to verify that the proper legal charges have been made against law offenders (50%). Together they free the most hours across the industry.
How many hours can AI save a public body?
About 690 hours a year per full-time person, 35% of a 2,000-hour working year. For a team of 10 that is about 6,900 hours, the time of 3.5 full-time people. The figure is the share of task time AI can remove today, weighted by how many people do each job.
Which roles in a public body are most exposed to AI?
Of the roles with at least 2% of the jobs, office clerks score highest, at 60 of 100, and firefighters lowest, at 15. Each role's page lists its tasks one by one.
Will AI replace jobs in government?
AI can do 14% of the task time across these roles today. Another 49% gets faster with AI while a person stays in charge. 37% needs a person. One task that stays with people is to identify, pursue, and arrest suspects and perpetrators of criminal acts.
Where should a public body start with AI?
With the quick wins: approved assistants for the tasks AI helps with, under a written AI policy. Then automate the 8 tasks on this page AI can do end to end. An AI audit maps the tasks in your team and ranks them the same way this page does.
Next steps
Find the tasks to automate first in your team
We map the tasks in your business, score each one the way this page does and build the automations that pay back first.