Portugal is testing automated systems with artificial intelligence agents in the Public Administration to process applications, detect fraud, organize service queues, and support decisions in areas such as Social Security, taxes, or immigration. The authorities promise greater speed, reduced paperwork, and less waiting time for citizens.
However, the article warns about a fundamental problem: many of these systems operate as "black boxes," meaning the decisions they make are not easily explainable or auditable. It is no longer about mere computers following orders, but autonomous agents that decide the next steps on their own.
The article questions whether society is prepared to delegate important decisions to systems that not even the technicians themselves can fully explain. The lack of transparency in these processes raises concerns about accountability and citizens' rights.
