Mediation competence of public servants in the conditions of digital transformation: from ai simulators to digital co-pilots

Abstract

This article explores the transformation of mediation competence of public servants under conditions of digitalization and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI). The increasing complexity of social interactions in the context of European integration and post-conflict recovery necessitates enhanced conflict resolution capacities within public administration. The study conceptualizes the development of mediation competence through AI-enabled tools, from simulation-based training to real-time digital assistants. It identifies key components of this competence - cognitive-analytical, emotional-perceptive, and instrumental-technological - and introduces the concept of the “augmented mediator,” where AI supports decision-making by restructuring the salience of conflict factors. An evolutionary framework of AI integration is proposed, alongside an analysis of ethical challenges such as algorithmic bias and data confidentiality. The findings demonstrate a shift from individual to institutional mediation capacity, establishing a new paradigm of human – AI collaboration in public administration.