Public sector leaders are grappling with how to keep pace with AI and digital finance shifts while ensuring standards and trust. In the latest edition of our monthly expert insight series, here’s what caught our eye in August - and why it matters for government decision-makers today.
🔹 1. New Zealand joins the OECD countries with national AI strategies
Many governments have rushed to regulate and set policy frameworks around AI. With New Zealand now publishing its strategy, every OECD member has one in place. The US also recently advanced its agenda with a new federal action plan.
➡️ Why this matters: “This is an important sign that many governments are moving fast to regulate and define policy frameworks around rapidly evolving AI - and now there are plenty of examples to learn from for countries still preparing strategies or action plans.” Kristo Vaher, CTO at Digital Nation
🔹 2. Digital Euro may run on a public blockchain
EU policymakers, wary of potential US dollar digital currency dominance, are now exploring a major pivot: moving the digital euro onto a public blockchain such as Ethereum or Solana, rather than a proprietary system.
➡️ Why this matters: “From an interoperability perspective, a public-chain euro would be natively compatible with the wider financial internet - smoothing cross-border payments, easing integration with digital assets, and accelerating innovation. But it also raises unresolved challenges: public ledgers create privacy and GDPR risks policymakers must not underestimate.” Maksim Ovtsinnikov, Director of Interoperability at Digital Nation.
🔹 3. OECD white paper: AI Openness - A Primer for Policymakers
This new paper urges civil servants to move beyond the simplistic “open vs. closed” framing in AI, and instead look at the nuanced policy levers - from procurement and research funding to regulation - that shape safe, competitive ecosystems.
➡️ Why this matters: “The paper reminds us that the right level of openness will vary, and governance frameworks must stay adaptive. It also underlines that educating the public sector is key to building stronger, smarter procurement ecosystems for the future.” Sigrit Siht, Director of Data & AI at Digital Nation.
🔹 4. Wales publishes new guidance in its Service Manual
The Welsh Government has translated the Digital Service Standard into practical, ready-to-use tools - activities, worksheets, and examples across understanding users, mapping services, writing clear content, prototyping/testing, and designing accessible, inclusive, sustainable services.
➡️ Why this matters: “Service standards define what ‘good’ looks like; this guidance shows how to deliver it, especially in bilingual contexts and constrained teams. It’s a tangible example governments can borrow from to implement standards effectively, speed up delivery, and ensure digital services work for the citizens as end-users.” Helena Lepp, Director of Service Transformation at Digital Nation.