Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the talk of the current day, causing disruptions in every aspect of society, and advancing several domains. This is the case in the field of Internal Auditing and Risk Management within the Public Sector.
It is with great enthusiasm that I introduce this special issue themed: “AI-based in Internal Auditing and Risk Management in the Public Sector”. The issue delves into the intersection of cutting-edge technology and AI’s role in auditing using machine learning, applications of artificial neural networks in forecasting the gross domestic product of countries, detection of anomalies in financial statements in public healthcare, review of AI competencies required by internal auditors in the public sector, and review of how the field of risk management has enjoyed AI in recent years. As governments around the globe navigate an increasingly complex landscape, the adoption of AI in the public sector represents a paradigm shift, revolutionizing how organizations approach internal auditing and risk management. The contributors to this special issue bring together a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and real-world insights, providing a thorough examination of the myriad applications of AI in ensuring accountability, transparency, and fiscal responsibility.
In these pages, you will find a convergence of academic rigor and practical relevance with evident contributions in theoretical frameworks, forecasting and detection models, competency frameworks, and bibliometric inferences. This issue not only distills the latest research findings but also translates them into actionable strategies for public sector leaders, internal auditors, risk managers, and policymakers. It is a testament to the collaborative efforts of experts who recognize the pivotal role AI plays in shaping the future of internal auditing and risk management in the public sector.
I extend my sincere gratitude to the contributors for their dedication to advancing knowledge in this critical field and their effort in engaging with AI content at a technical level, even though, for most of the contributors, it is a secondary discipline for them. I also appreciate the efforts of my co-editors, Prof. Lourens Erasmus and Prof. Sezer Bozkus Kahyaoglu, in managing the review, editing, and production of this multidisciplinary piece of work.
Will the discussion about AI ever stop at this point? Absolutely, not! The decades ahead of us promise to bring more surprises, surpassing that which we saw with humanoids, self-driving cars, or generative AI. Hence, I encourage the contributors to continue their good work in producing and making AI applications in this field more accessible to policymakers and the knowledge community around the world.
Happy reading!
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Abejide Ade-Ibijola
Abejide Ade-Ibijola Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Applications Johannesburg Business School, University of Johannesburg, South Africa.