Reflections from Giliard Godoi (2025 dg.o Travel Grant Awardee, Ph.D. Student in University of São Paulo, Institute of Computer Science and Mathematics)
“Participating in the 26th Annual International Conference on Digital Government Research (DGO 2025) for the first time was truly a memorable experience. The event, held in Porto Alegre, the capital of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil, felt even more special as it marked the first edition of the conference hosted in South America.
When we talk about recent technological advances, it’s common to experience mixed feelings. On one hand, there is excitement over new possibilities; on the other, concerns about risks and potential negative impacts. Social media is a clear example: it connects distant people but has also become fertile ground for the spread of misinformation.
The same applies to Generative Artificial Intelligence technologies. These AI systems, capable of mimicking human writing and reasoning or generating impressive images, expand our creativity but also amplify the misinformation problem, raising questions about our ability to distinguish what is real from what is artificially created.
In this context of both excitement and concern, DGO 2025 stood out as an essential space for dialogue. Bringing together researchers, students, public officials, and professionals from various fields, the event fostered reflections on how to use emerging technologies for the benefit of society, with a focus on justice, equity, and transparency.
Technologies, by themselves, are neither good nor bad. They are tools whose impact depends on the choices we make—as individuals and as a society. Governments can employ these tools for social good, whether by offering better services to citizens, streamlining internal processes, preventing and responding to climate disasters, or assisting people in critical situations.
That’s why conferences like DGO are so relevant. They allow us to meet people from different countries who share a common goal: using technology for the collective good. Moreover, they help us realize that many challenges we face locally also appear in other parts of the world, opening space for the exchange of experiences and solutions.
While technology plays a central role in our lives, attending an in-person event reinforces the importance of human connection. Simple gestures of kindness and empathy—like a handshake or a shy “Hi, how are you? Where are you from?”—create bonds that digital channels can complement but never fully replace.
Another aspect that stood out to me was the interdisciplinarity of DGO. With a background in computer science, I had the opportunity to exchange experiences with sociologists, economists, and public managers, which broadened my perspective on the social use of technology.
In my specific case, I presented a paper on the classification of legal documents, discussing how improvements in text preprocessing stages can impact the quality of thematic classification. However, conversations with other participants led me to reflect beyond the computational aspect: how the Judiciary uses these tools to automate and speed up its processes and what the implications are when an automatic classification gets it wrong.
The DGO 2025 program was intense. On the very first day, I attended workshops addressing topics like accessibility, equity, and data security in the ‘Cadastro Único’—a government database that gathers information about families benefiting from Brazil’s social programs. During group activities, we discussed challenges around interoperability and the safe use of this data in public policy formulation. Other groups enriched the discussion with equally important perspectives.
In the afternoon, I joined another workshop on creating a training program for Smart Cities and resilient cities. It was inspiring to see how different perspectives came together to build a collective proposal. Even though I’m usually shy, I felt the need to contribute with my ideas.
The plenary sessions were also insightful. We heard from representatives of the Brazilian federal government, who spoke about initiatives for digitizing public services and integrating data. We also learned about the Chilean government’s experiences in providing digital services and the Rio Grande do Sul state government’s use of technology to accelerate financial aid for victims of recent floods.
Beyond the lectures and paper presentations, the informal conversations during coffee breaks and lunches led to unexpected and valuable dialogues. These casual encounters put us in contact with experienced researchers, graduate students, and even those just starting their academic journey. And the exchange of ideas was valuable with each one of them.
It was a week of intense learning, enriching exchanges, and professional growth. I leave DGO 2025 with a renewed sense of enthusiasm for future projects and, hopefully, with the motivation to make my own contribution to social good.”
When we talk about recent technological advances, it’s common to experience mixed feelings. On one hand, there is excitement over new possibilities; on the other, concerns about risks and potential negative impacts. Social media is a clear example: it connects distant people but has also become fertile ground for the spread of misinformation.
The same applies to Generative Artificial Intelligence technologies. These AI systems, capable of mimicking human writing and reasoning or generating impressive images, expand our creativity but also amplify the misinformation problem, raising questions about our ability to distinguish what is real from what is artificially created.
In this context of both excitement and concern, DGO 2025 stood out as an essential space for dialogue. Bringing together researchers, students, public officials, and professionals from various fields, the event fostered reflections on how to use emerging technologies for the benefit of society, with a focus on justice, equity, and transparency.
Technologies, by themselves, are neither good nor bad. They are tools whose impact depends on the choices we make—as individuals and as a society. Governments can employ these tools for social good, whether by offering better services to citizens, streamlining internal processes, preventing and responding to climate disasters, or assisting people in critical situations.
That’s why conferences like DGO are so relevant. They allow us to meet people from different countries who share a common goal: using technology for the collective good. Moreover, they help us realize that many challenges we face locally also appear in other parts of the world, opening space for the exchange of experiences and solutions.
While technology plays a central role in our lives, attending an in-person event reinforces the importance of human connection. Simple gestures of kindness and empathy—like a handshake or a shy “Hi, how are you? Where are you from?”—create bonds that digital channels can complement but never fully replace.
Another aspect that stood out to me was the interdisciplinarity of DGO. With a background in computer science, I had the opportunity to exchange experiences with sociologists, economists, and public managers, which broadened my perspective on the social use of technology.
In my specific case, I presented a paper on the classification of legal documents, discussing how improvements in text preprocessing stages can impact the quality of thematic classification. However, conversations with other participants led me to reflect beyond the computational aspect: how the Judiciary uses these tools to automate and speed up its processes and what the implications are when an automatic classification gets it wrong.
The DGO 2025 program was intense. On the very first day, I attended workshops addressing topics like accessibility, equity, and data security in the ‘Cadastro Único’—a government database that gathers information about families benefiting from Brazil’s social programs. During group activities, we discussed challenges around interoperability and the safe use of this data in public policy formulation. Other groups enriched the discussion with equally important perspectives.
In the afternoon, I joined another workshop on creating a training program for Smart Cities and resilient cities. It was inspiring to see how different perspectives came together to build a collective proposal. Even though I’m usually shy, I felt the need to contribute with my ideas.
The plenary sessions were also insightful. We heard from representatives of the Brazilian federal government, who spoke about initiatives for digitizing public services and integrating data. We also learned about the Chilean government’s experiences in providing digital services and the Rio Grande do Sul state government’s use of technology to accelerate financial aid for victims of recent floods.
Beyond the lectures and paper presentations, the informal conversations during coffee breaks and lunches led to unexpected and valuable dialogues. These casual encounters put us in contact with experienced researchers, graduate students, and even those just starting their academic journey. And the exchange of ideas was valuable with each one of them.
It was a week of intense learning, enriching exchanges, and professional growth. I leave DGO 2025 with a renewed sense of enthusiasm for future projects and, hopefully, with the motivation to make my own contribution to social good.”
