We are moving from a government of "best guesses" to a state run by data. Are we ready for the responsibility?
For decades, public policy was built on intuition, experience, and the slow turn of reactive reviews. Today, that model is being replaced by the Algorithmic State, a world where real-time service logs, predictive modelling, and advanced analytics dictate how resources are spent and lives are impacted.
In my latest article, Governing the Algorithmic State, I explore why this shift is more than just a tech upgrade; it is a fundamental redesign of the social contract. While data offers us a path to unprecedented efficiency and proactive service, it also demands a new kind of leadership: Moral Foresight.
The question is no longer just "can we use this data?" but "should we?"
What we explore in this piece:
The Evidence Imperative: Why the move from "hunch-based" policy to rigorous data frameworks is non-negotiable for modern transparency.
Beyond Efficiency: The danger of optimising systems while losing sight of the citizens they serve.
The Ethical Architecture: How to build "Moral Foresight" into the very code of our public institutions.
The transition to an algorithmic state isn't inevitable, it's a choice. We must ensure that as our systems become more "intelligent," they don't become less human.
