Critical essay demonstrates the limitations of artificial intelligence in public policy, highlighting the necessity of human discernment and interpretive analysis.
This essay examines the future of policy studies in the context of artificial intelligence (AI). It critically examines the conventional positivist approach to comprehending public policies, assesses whether AI may carry out traditional policy inquiries more effectively than people, and investigates the potential for interpretive policy analysis to inevitably supersede AI-generated, positivist-oriented knowledge. The interpretive approach is described as a ready-made means to understand programs and activities within the framework of values, narratives, and social constructs. The contention is that human discernment should become the predominant focus of policy studies. AI may supply plenty of empirical information but will intrinsically lack the capacity to grasp the political and cultural judgments that are fundamental to the policy process.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Jerry Mitchell (2026) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: