In New Zealand, a new law passed by Parliament authorizes the Ministry of Social Development to use an automated electronic system to make decisions on welfare benefits. This policy aims to modernize the welfare system to improve efficiency and better serve taxpayers and those in genuine need. However, some lawmakers express concern about the transparency and oversight of AI decision-making, noting it is difficult to understand how these automated decisions are made.

The debate centers on whether this shift towards AI-driven welfare decisions balances innovation with adequate safeguards. The Ministry of Social Development and government officials have framed the law as a significant step forward, while opposition voices call for clearer accountability measures.