关键词: 信息不对称, 人工智能, 公共治理, 数字鸿沟

Abstract: Information is a foundational element of social structure and a key resource for the exercise of power, constituting a fundamental parameter of public governance and exerting significant influence on governance structures, processes, and technologies. Information asymmetry is a basic phenomenon affecting social interactions and is profoundly impacted by the development and application of artificial intelligence technology. Through large-scale data processing, complex relationship restructuring, and innovative interaction models, AI generates dual effects in public governance. On the one hand, AI enhances the visibility, commensurability, and egalitarian use of information tools, making previously hidden information visible and accessible, transforming specialized information into forms understandable by the public, and turning advanced analytical tools from privileges for the few into public resources. On the other hand, AI drives the evolution of information asymmetry from quantitative disparities to qualitative differentiation, from low-dimensional opposition to high-dimensional fission, and from a deterministic pattern to an uncertain one. These evolutions reveal deep-seated contradictions in public governance in the digital age: the expansion of information sharing does not necessarily lead to equality in information power, the proliferation of AI technology may not bridge gaps in comprehension, and information asymmetry cannot be eliminated but will only manifest in different forms. A thorough analysis of the interaction between AI technology and information asymmetry helps to accurately grasp the evolutionary direction of public governance and provides theoretical insights for constructing a more moderate and balanced governance system.

Key words: information asymmetry, artificial intelligence, public governance, digital divide