Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Faculty of Public Administration, Faculty of Management and Accounting, Allameh Tabatabaei University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Faculty of Management and Accounting, Allameh Tabatabai University, Tehran, Iran

10.22054/spsa.2026.90287.1102

Abstract

Despite the transformative role of AI in modernizing governance systems, many government organizations face challenges in successfully implementing this technology due to the lack of an appropriate platform. The main objective of this study is to identify and classify critical infrastructures for improving the level of readiness and successful deployment of AI in the public sector. The present study adopts a qualitative approach, utilizing McNabb’s process model and the thematic analysis method. For this purpose, scientific articles published in the period 2019 to 2025 in reputable databases (including Google Scholar and Web of Science) were screened, and finally 30 selected articles were analyzed. Data analysis showed that the ecosystem of AI readiness in the public sector is multidimensional in nature and requires balanced development in seven areas: information technology, data, organizational and management, legal and policymaking, cultural and social, economic and investment, and human resources.
While these infrastructures operate independently, they also interact and synergize with each other, forming the overall ecosystem required for the adoption, localization, and effective use of AI in public institutions. The findings show that creating interdisciplinary structures, data standardization, human resource training, flexible regulation, and sustainable financing are among the key requirements on the path to smart government.