Navigating the Algorithmic State: Public Values and Citizens' Preferences of AI ‐Driven Public Service Delivery
2026-04-22
As the public sector increasingly adopts AI‐powered automated decision systems (ADS), understanding how citizens experience and value ADS use in public decision‐making is both normatively and practically important. Therefore, we examine and compare the effects of seven attributes of public values on citizens' support for ADS adoption in two real‐world policy areas: healthcare and criminal justice. The results of an online conjoint experiment with approximately 1500 American adults reveal that effectiveness, transparency, and accountability are the most salient values influencing citizens' acceptance of government ADS deployment. Subgroup analyses suggest that algorithmic equity and data protection are significantly prioritized in the enforcement‐oriented criminal risk score prediction scenario, relative to the service‐oriented healthcare subsidy area. These findings provide insights into how to integrate public values in the design of government ADS that reflect citizen input and preferences.