A Vision for AI in Government: How Ukraine is Leading the Way with AI in Public Services

Following the launch in Ukraine of Diia.AI, an accessible AI assistant for government services, a conversation between First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykhailo Fedorov; Annette Kroeber-Riel, Google’s Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy - Europe; and Marcus Jadotte, Google Cloud’s Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy, on how governments can lead by bringing AI to public administration.

Marcus Jadotte: First Deputy Prime Minister Fedorov, Ukraine’s digital leadership, as shown by your top global rankings, is inspiring. Building on this strong foundation—which includes being ranked first globally for digital participation thanks to the introduction of mobile-first services—you are now delivering tangible AI-supported services, like income certificates, across the government. What was the key to moving so quickly from AI strategy to the real-world delivery of AI-enabled services?

First Deputy Prime Minister Fedorov: The key is a clear vision that informs every decision and project. Ukraine already had a strong foundation in digital transformation, so integrating AI was a natural, strategic next step. And we have an ambitious goal: to rank among the world’s top three countries in terms of AI integration and adoption in the public sector by 2030.

This ambition has helped galvanise the use of AI across all parts of public service, turning vision into action. We’ve already launched the world’s first national AI assistant on the Diia portal; introduced AI assistants for support teams, legal departments, and HR; and are integrating AI into education, defense tech, and more.

Annette Kroeber-Riel: Let’s stick with the big picture, and what’s ahead. Last month, you launched Diia.AI, a national AI agent for government services. How should the global public sector be thinking about the use of AI agents? 

First Deputy Prime Minister Fedorov: In Ukraine, we understand that creating a digital state was just the beginning. The real goal is helpful systems that anticipate and help users take action - or, an “agentic state”. We want to build on the success of our platforms, which provide services quickly, to systems that are proactive partners for people in Ukraine, anticipating people’s needs.

Annette Kroeber-Riel: The original vision for Diia was to make accessing services as simple as “ordering a taxi.” How does Diia.AI build on this vision, and what does it mean for Ukrainians in everyday life?

First Deputy Prime Minister Fedorov: The evolution is that now, with Diia.AI, a user just types, “I need an income certificate.” In this system, the goal is that a single request or even a voice message can immediately connect a person’s need with the result. This is part of the plan for a full rollout of Diia.AI in the app, enabling people to complete requests or access services through a single voice command.

This allows the state to be more helpful and supportive to its citizens. It’s a completely new level of interaction, where the government understands a person’s request just like an assistant would.

Marcus Jadotte: Data security is, of course, central to building reliable AI. What are the security benefits of the approach you’ve adopted for Diia.AI?

First Deputy Prime Minister Fedorov: The secure by design principle is core to all our products, which means security is built into the product architecture from the very beginning. Diia.AI follows the same approach. A key feature is hybrid infrastructure—Gemini 2.0 Flash on Vertex AI combined with our own secure on-premise systems — which ensures citizen data is depersonalized and hidden from the model. For governments to embrace AI, confidentiality and local control are non-negotiable requirements for establishing public trust.

Marcus Jadotte: We are proud to partner with the Ministry on this innovative project. What takeaways from our collaboration would you offer other governments looking to develop AI-first initiatives and strengthen public trust?

First Deputy Prime Minister Fedorov: The key lesson is simple: work closely with technology partners. Google is our strategic partner in this effort. Together, we collaborate across education, digital skills, AI, and startup support. By combining the expertise and resources of the private sector with the goals of the government, we can quickly create services that are secure and useful for citizens. Launching Diia.AI on Gemini has become a global case study for how public-private partnerships can deliver real AI solutions, not just for the government, but for millions of people.

Annette Kroeber-Riel: You mentioned Ukraine’s goal is to become one of the top three countries in AI adoption by 2030. Beyond technology, what key political, legislative, and organizational measures are being implemented to accelerate innovation in the public sector? How are you building the capacity needed for this transition?

First Deputy Prime Minister Fedorov:  We are building the conditions for innovation step by step. Ukraine is developing its Digital Agenda 2030 and a national AI strategy. In late 2024, we also approved the WINWIN 2030 Innovation Strategy, which introduces a fast-track process for technology products and startups – AI being a top priority.

At the same time, we are preparing businesses for future AI legislation. For example, we launched a sandbox for testing innovative AI and blockchain solutions, including for the public sector. We have published practical guidelines for various industries and are integrating AI into all our projects. On the Diia.Business portal, an AI assistant will soon create personalized business plans for users in just a few minutes.

Marcus Jadotte: As a final thought, what practical advice would you give countries looking to match the speed and ambition of Diia?

First Deputy Prime Minister Fedorov: Always put people at the center of every process and use technology as a tool. Adapt services to user needs, and scale successful solutions. This approach allows innovation to quickly translate into real results for citizens.