Artificial intelligence (AI) systems offer many opportunities to improve the efficiency and quality of services in public administration, but they can also support more informed decision-making and policy development. However, the uptake and use of such technologies also raise ethical questions. Given the potential impact of AI systems on fundamental human rights, careful consideration of the risks posed by a lack of transparency, bias, insufficient data protection, and unclear attribution of accountability is essential. This master's thesis examines such ethical aspects in the context of Slovenia's public administration. The aim was to identify key challenges in this field and then, using reflexive thematic analysis of the content of six semi-structured interviews with experts working at the intersection of AI development, application, and regulation in public administration, to explore the current state of AI and the existing safeguards for mitigating risks. The results show that some initiatives and projects are already underway in Slovenia. However, the public administration also faces challenges such as outdated technical infrastructure, difficulties in data management, and certain political obstacles that hinder faster progress. Although awareness of such risks exists at the strategic level, there are doubts as to whether a sufficient understanding of these issues is present across all levels of public administration. Furthermore, based on the interviews, it can be concluded that a more systemic approach is needed to link individual initiatives related to the introduction and responsible management of AI technologies. The lack of such an approach is reflected, among other things, in the absence of a systematic overview of the use and functionalities of AI systems within the Slovenian public administration.
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