Like millions of others, I tuned in to football’s big game. As I witnessed the strategic plays and touchdowns cause wild fanfare on both sides, I couldn’t help but think of the unlikely parallel between championship football strategies and government AI implementation.
Today, government agencies are experiencing the AI revolution, seeking to transform public service delivery with the same strategic precision top football teams use to convert critical plays into touchdowns. Just as championship teams meticulously analyze game footage, design intricate strategies and execute plays, agencies must approach AI implementation with equally deliberate planning. Where football teams translate complex strategies into scoring opportunities, governments must similarly convert AI investments into tangible outcomes. While football has established playbooks, AI implementation presents a more complex challenge—requiring the same preparation, adaptability and strategic vision that separates championship teams from average performers. That’s why CGI recently partnered with MIT Sloan to explore how to scale AI initiatives while delivering tangible business outcomes.
Moving through the leagues
Think of your AI evolution like football leagues – starting with learning the fundamentals and moving up the ranks, refining your skills and developing new strategies to improve your overall performance. I’ve never heard of a player jumping from little league to the pros – similarly, your AI journey will be a progressive evolution of skills development, refinement and deployment.
- Little league: basic reporting and spreadsheets – digitizing citizen services
- High school: early machine learning, where agencies began running more sophisticated plays for fraud detection and process automation
- Division 1: deep learning, handling structured and unstructured data like a well-coordinated offense processing citizen inquiries
- The big league: your professional era of generative AI, creating new content and leveraging public data with the precision of a veteran quarterback to revolutionize government services
The winning formula
While many public sector AI initiatives fall short of the proverbial “end zone,” the strategy for success has never been more clear. Government data is the critical playmaker – without it, serving citizens effectively remains impossible. Agency leadership acts as the quarterback, strategically driving progress toward enhanced public services. Just as a quarterback requires protection, AI initiatives demand robust data quality – serving as the essential offensive line to deliver tangible value to citizens.
Success demands a unified government team approach. Clear objectives, robust data governance and continuous training form the foundation. Agencies must rally behind solutions with the passion of devoted fans, while ethics and transparency serve as impartial referees ensuring fair play. Like teams studying game film, continuous monitoring and improvement distinguish top-performing agencies from those left on the sidelines.
Driving towards the end zone
Success on the field and in government AI transformation isn't about having the flashiest plays–it's about preparation, precision, and persistence. Governments must perfect the fundamentals, work to protect citizen data and execute a clear strategy to drive outcomes. For the agencies engaged in this work, it’s so much more than a game; it’s about transforming government services and making a positive impact on the lives of its citizens.
The end zone of transformed government services is waiting. Are you ready to play? Let’s huddle up and drive innovation forward.
About this author
Becky Magnusson
Director, Consulting Services
Becky Magnusson is a seasoned data scientist with over a decade of experience in machine learning, analytics, and generative AI. She holds a master’s in data analytics from the University of Houston-Downtown, where she graduated in 2019. Becky has successfully delivered solutions across diverse industries, ...
