Latvia addresses rising challenges from artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence is increasingly impacting public administration and information integrity in Latvia. The Latvian Artificial Intelligence Center (MIC) has released a guide titled ‘AI and Elections’ to help citizens navigate the digital landscape. The guide aims to assist voters in identifying deepfakes—AI-generated audio, video, or images that appear authentic—and warns against the use of automated fake profiles and comments designed to manipulate public opinion.

Simultaneously, the Riga City Council's City Development Department is facing a critical surge in administrative workload due to AI-generated submissions. Edgars Bergholcs, head of the City Development Committee, reported that many of these submissions are voluminous, featuring extensive arguments and legal references that may not accurately reflect actual circumstances. This influx of AI-generated content is forcing building inspectors and lawyers to spend significant time processing lengthy documents rather than performing their primary duties, such as site inspections.