Key facts
Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly permeating many areas of people’s lives and the economy. The debate around AI has gained considerable traction in the media and politics. The Swiss Federal Audit Office (SFAO) is participating in a parallel audit entitled “Examine the government sector’s preparedness for implementation of AI technology”. The audit was launched in 2024 by the European Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (EUROSAI). In further audits, the SFAO assessed the extent to which the groundwork has been laid for the adoption of AI in the Federal Administration. It examined two areas of action: institutional AI frameworks and specific AI projects.
The AI initiatives launched by the Confederation create a framework for institutional AI which provides a firm foundation for the adoption of AI. At the same time, the Confederation has launched numerous AI projects, some of which have already been put into practice. However, pioneering AI projects should be visible to the public and demonstrate the responsible use of AI in the Federal Administration. There also needs to be effective coordination between the two areas of action, to ensure the targeted further development of AI, and to keep pace with the rapid advances in AI technology. Moreover, closer coordination reduces the risk of shadow IT, in other words IT solutions that are developed outside of authorised use and validated infrastructure. It is difficult to regain control of uncoordinated and redundantly structured IT infrastructures at a later date, which impairs both IT security and the administration’s economic efficiency.