The Institute of Digital Government, Waseda University has released the World Digital Government Ranking 2024 Survey. Released on December 4, the survey covers 66 countries and regions. Singapore regained the top spot for the first time in seven years. Denmark, which had held the No. 1 position for three consecutive years, dropped to 3rd place. Great Britain, which secured 3rd position last year, moved up to 2nd place. Japan fell out of the top 10 last year to 11th place. It failed to make a comeback this time around, remaining in 11th place. The United States placed 4th, South Korea 5th, the Netherlands 6th, Estonia 7th, Saudi Arabia 8th, Germany 9th, and New Zealand 10th. Ghana finished last in 66th place.
The gap in digitization among the top five countries has narrowed. The top runners all reached total scores of 92 or more out of 100. Digital transformation (DX) and artificial intelligence (AI) are accelerating worldwide, giving humanity access to ever more information. Nevertheless, the Waseda survey warns that the gap is widening between the digitally advanced and developing countries.
Previous Waseda surveys identified noteworthy innovation trends, such as the emergence of AI. The latest survey indicates that the use of AI has become more realistic. This means that we have reached a turning point where we must reconsider the fundamental governing principles of the digital government - namely, promoting efficiency and productivity as well as ensuring reliability and transparency.
The 2024 survey identifies the rollout of generative AI as the year's biggest topic. The survey notes that competition in developing generative AI has intensified further since 2023. Moreover, generative AI, which used to handle text only, has broaden its scope to be capable of image processing.
In addition, this report discusses the application of AI in government in major countries. The debate surrounding the rollout of generative AI is still continuing. More attention is being paid to the efforts put forth by the digital government - specifically, how it contributes to digital governance activities, such as ensuring transparency.
The top-ranking countries are working to develop government services that improve efficiency and productivity and to close the digital divide among their citizens. Waseda's analysis also shows that governments in other countries are trying to catch up. They are working harder than last year to learn from the leading digital countries' approaches to DX, with the aim to reduce the digital divide.
The report also summarizes Japan's challenges and structural weaknesses. Japan's Digital Agency is intended to be a control tower of the government's digitization efforts, but it still faces challenges in effectively using its authority. Government agencies are still working separately rather than together, which leads to overlapping investments. This inefficient practice, delays in administrative DX, and the lack of speed in policy implementation continue to be challenges.
In addition, small local governments will need AI to work more efficiently and resolve labor shortages. To achieve sustainable management, these local governments need ongoing help, rather than just temporary support measures. Rural areas face particularly urgent problems.
The survey report makes the following recommendations for Japan. As soon as possible, Japan must learn from historical lessons to address the "singularity (AI surpasses human intelligence)" the event that rapidly and consistently growing AI will challenge human society in the 2030s, which is earlier than expected. In addition, Japan must pursue swift administrative and financial reforms. It must roll out citizen-centered government services to create an AI government.
The World Digital Government Ranking Survey was established by Professor Emeritus Toshio Obi of Waseda University. The Survey is compiled by a joint research team composed of experts representing partner universities under the NPO International Academy of CIO Japan. This group is affiliated with the global organization International Academy of CIO. (International Academy of CIO Japan President: Professor Naoko Iwasaki, Institute of Digital Government, Waseda University)
This article has been translated by JST with permission from The Science News Ltd. (https://sci-news.co.jp/). Unauthorized reproduction of the article and photographs is prohibited.