This book is both an academic study and a practical guide, a roadmap for navigating the fast-shifting crossroads where artificial intelligence (AI), talent development, and career resilience intersect in the public sector. Change, after all, has become the only constant—and technology increasingly dictates the pace and rules of engagement. For public institutions, adapting to this new reality involves more than simply adopting the latest digital platforms. It requires foresight, inclusive leadership, and, perhaps most importantly, a commitment to empower people rather than leave them behind.
Across the UAE, this reality is already evident. Government agencies are piloting some of the most ambitious digital transformations in the region—from AI-enabled citizen services to predictive analytics reshaping healthcare and education. Innovation, in short, is rewriting the DNA of the public sector. But here lies a paradox: as technology races forward, can the human workforce evolve at the same speed? This book aims to address precisely that question. It explores how AI can be integrated into public institutions in ways that strengthen talent development and build resilience, ensuring people remain not only employable but adaptable in the face of disruption.
AI is no longer just a buzzword making headlines. It is already woven into the day-to-day fabric of human resource management: scanning job applications, mapping training needs, and generating real-time performance feedback. Yet the promise of AI is not self-fulfilling. Much depends on how institutions adopt it and whether they use it to amplify human potential rather than diminish it. Here, we take a deliberately critical stance. AI should be viewed as a moderating force—an enhancer of judgment, not a substitute for it.
