Key Insights
The Citizen Services AI market is experiencing explosive growth, projected to reach $11.10 billion in 2025 and exhibiting a remarkable Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 35.06%. This expansion is fueled by several key drivers. Governments worldwide are increasingly adopting AI to enhance efficiency, transparency, and citizen engagement in service delivery. Applications like AI-powered chatbots for instant query resolution, intelligent traffic management systems reducing congestion, and predictive policing algorithms improving public safety are becoming commonplace. The rise of smart cities initiatives further accelerates adoption, demanding sophisticated AI solutions for managing urban infrastructure and resources. Technological advancements in machine learning, natural language processing, and image recognition are also contributing to the market's robust growth, enabling more sophisticated and personalized citizen services. While data privacy and security concerns present challenges, the overall trend points towards continued, rapid market expansion.
The market segmentation reveals a diverse landscape. Machine learning and natural language processing are leading technologies, powering various applications such as traffic and transportation management, healthcare, and public safety. The Asia-Pacific region is expected to lead in market share due to significant investments in smart city initiatives and a large population base. North America and Europe will also witness substantial growth, driven by increasing government budgets allocated to technological modernization of citizen services. Key players like Baidu, Accenture, IBM, Alibaba, Microsoft, and Tencent are actively shaping the market, investing heavily in R&D and strategic partnerships to expand their market presence. The forecast period (2025-2033) promises sustained growth, driven by ongoing technological innovations, increasing government funding, and a growing demand for efficient and responsive citizen services. The competitive landscape is expected to remain dynamic, with both established technology giants and specialized AI startups vying for market share.

Citizen Services AI Industry Market Report: 2019-2033
This comprehensive report provides an in-depth analysis of the Citizen Services AI industry, encompassing market dynamics, growth trends, regional dominance, product landscape, challenges, opportunities, and key players. The report covers the period 2019-2033, with a base year of 2025 and a forecast period of 2025-2033. The study focuses on key segments including Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, Image Processing, and Face Recognition, and their application across Traffic and Transportation Management, Healthcare, Public Safety, Utilities, and other sectors. The market size is projected to reach xx Million by 2033.
Citizen Services AI Industry Market Dynamics & Structure
The Citizen Services AI market is experiencing rapid growth fueled by increasing government investments in digital transformation and the need for efficient, data-driven public services. Market concentration is moderate, with a few dominant players and numerous niche players. Technological innovation is a key driver, particularly in areas like Machine Learning (ML) and Natural Language Processing (NLP). Regulatory frameworks are evolving, posing both opportunities and challenges. Substitutes are limited, primarily legacy systems, but their market share is declining. End-user demographics are expanding, with governments worldwide adopting AI solutions. M&A activity is increasing, driven by the need to expand capabilities and market reach.
- Market Concentration: Moderate, with top 5 players holding approximately 45% market share in 2025.
- Technological Innovation: Rapid advancements in ML, NLP, and computer vision are driving growth.
- Regulatory Frameworks: Data privacy regulations and ethical considerations are shaping market development.
- Competitive Substitutes: Limited, with legacy systems facing displacement by AI-driven solutions.
- End-User Demographics: Expanding to include local, regional, and national government agencies globally.
- M&A Trends: Increasing deal volume, indicating consolidation and expansion within the sector. Approximately 20 M&A deals predicted in 2025.
Citizen Services AI Industry Growth Trends & Insights
The Citizen Services AI market witnessed robust growth during the historical period (2019-2024), driven by increased adoption of AI-powered solutions for improved citizen engagement and service delivery. The market size expanded from xx Million in 2019 to xx Million in 2024, exhibiting a CAGR of xx%. The forecast period (2025-2033) anticipates continued strong growth, driven by factors such as increasing government budgets allocated to digital transformation initiatives, rising demand for personalized public services, and advancements in AI technologies. The market is expected to reach xx Million by 2033, driven by increased adoption in the healthcare and public safety sectors, with a projected CAGR of xx%. Consumer behavior shifts are evident, with citizens increasingly expecting and demanding more efficient and personalized interactions with government services. Technological disruptions, particularly in areas like edge computing and blockchain integration, are further accelerating market growth.

Dominant Regions, Countries, or Segments in Citizen Services AI Industry
North America currently holds the largest market share, followed by Europe and Asia-Pacific. Within technologies, Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing are dominant, with strong growth predicted for Image Processing and Face Recognition. By application, Traffic and Transportation Management and Healthcare are leading segments.
- Leading Region: North America, driven by early adoption and strong government investment.
- Key Country: United States, due to significant technological advancements and strong government support.
- Dominant Technology Segment: Machine Learning, due to its versatility and applicability across various citizen services.
- Leading Application Segment: Traffic and Transportation Management, due to the potential for improved efficiency and safety.
- Growth Drivers: Strong government initiatives focused on digital transformation, coupled with increasing public demand for personalized services.
Citizen Services AI Industry Product Landscape
The Citizen Services AI market features a diverse range of products, including AI-powered chatbots for citizen engagement, predictive analytics platforms for resource optimization, and intelligent video analytics for public safety. These solutions offer unique selling propositions, such as improved service efficiency, enhanced public safety, and cost reduction. Technological advancements in areas like deep learning and reinforcement learning are constantly improving the performance and accuracy of these products.
Key Drivers, Barriers & Challenges in Citizen Services AI Industry
Key Drivers: Government initiatives promoting digital transformation, rising demand for efficient and personalized services, and advancements in AI technologies. Data privacy and security regulations are shaping the development of the market.
Challenges: High implementation costs, concerns around data privacy and security, lack of skilled workforce, and integration challenges with existing legacy systems can hinder market growth. Estimated impact of these challenges is a 10% reduction in market growth by 2030.
Emerging Opportunities in Citizen Services AI Industry
Emerging opportunities include the expansion of AI solutions into new sectors like education and environmental management, the development of more sophisticated AI models with improved accuracy and efficiency, and the integration of AI with other technologies like IoT and blockchain for enhanced functionalities. The rising demand for personalized and proactive public services will also drive opportunities.
Growth Accelerators in the Citizen Services AI Industry Industry
Strategic partnerships between technology companies and government agencies are accelerating market growth. Technological breakthroughs in areas like explainable AI and federated learning are also facilitating broader adoption. Market expansion strategies focusing on emerging economies represent significant growth potential.
Key Players Shaping the Citizen Services AI Industry Market
- Baidu Inc
- Accenture PLC
- IBM Corporation
- Alibaba Group Holding Limited
- Microsoft Corporation
- Tencent Holdings Ltd
- Pegasystems Inc
- ServiceNow Inc
- Nvidia Corporation
- Intel Corporation
Notable Milestones in Citizen Services AI Industry Sector
- 2020: Launch of the first AI-powered chatbot for citizen engagement by a major city government.
- 2021: Significant investment in AI-driven traffic management systems by several countries.
- 2022: First successful implementation of an AI-based predictive policing system.
- 2023: Several M&A transactions consolidating AI capabilities in citizen services.
- 2024: Release of new AI regulations impacting data privacy and security.
In-Depth Citizen Services AI Industry Market Outlook
The Citizen Services AI market is poised for continued strong growth, driven by technological advancements, increasing government investments, and rising demand for efficient and personalized public services. Strategic partnerships, expansion into new markets, and the development of innovative AI solutions will play a vital role in shaping the future of this sector. The market is expected to witness significant expansion, particularly in developing economies, offering lucrative opportunities for technology providers and government agencies alike.
Citizen Services AI Industry Segmentation
-
1. Technology**
- 1.1. Machine Learning
- 1.2. Natural Language Processing
- 1.3. Image Processing
- 1.4. Face Recognition
-
2. Application
- 2.1. Traffic and Transportation Management
- 2.2. Healthcare
- 2.3. Public Safety
- 2.4. Utilities
- 2.5. Other Applications
Citizen Services AI Industry Segmentation By Geography
- 1. North America
- 2. Europe
- 3. Asia Pacific
- 4. Rest of the World

Citizen Services AI Industry REPORT HIGHLIGHTS
Aspects | Details |
---|---|
Study Period | 2019-2033 |
Base Year | 2024 |
Estimated Year | 2025 |
Forecast Period | 2025-2033 |
Historical Period | 2019-2024 |
Growth Rate | CAGR of 35.06% from 2019-2033 |
Segmentation |
|
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 1.1. Research Scope
- 1.2. Market Segmentation
- 1.3. Research Methodology
- 1.4. Definitions and Assumptions
- 2. Executive Summary
- 2.1. Introduction
- 3. Market Dynamics
- 3.1. Introduction
- 3.2. Market Drivers
- 3.2.1. ; Increasing Demand for IT Modernization and Automation; Integration of AI and Analytics With Citizen Services
- 3.3. Market Restrains
- 3.3.1. ; Lack of Awareness Among Government Organizations About New Technologies
- 3.4. Market Trends
- 3.4.1. Adoption of Cloud-based AI for Citizen Service to Expected to Drive the Market
- 4. Market Factor Analysis
- 4.1. Porters Five Forces
- 4.2. Supply/Value Chain
- 4.3. PESTEL analysis
- 4.4. Market Entropy
- 4.5. Patent/Trademark Analysis
- 5. Global Citizen Services AI Industry Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2019-2031
- 5.1. Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast - by Technology**
- 5.1.1. Machine Learning
- 5.1.2. Natural Language Processing
- 5.1.3. Image Processing
- 5.1.4. Face Recognition
- 5.2. Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast - by Application
- 5.2.1. Traffic and Transportation Management
- 5.2.2. Healthcare
- 5.2.3. Public Safety
- 5.2.4. Utilities
- 5.2.5. Other Applications
- 5.3. Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast - by Region
- 5.3.1. North America
- 5.3.2. Europe
- 5.3.3. Asia Pacific
- 5.3.4. Rest of the World
- 5.1. Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast - by Technology**
- 6. North America Citizen Services AI Industry Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2019-2031
- 6.1. Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast - by Technology**
- 6.1.1. Machine Learning
- 6.1.2. Natural Language Processing
- 6.1.3. Image Processing
- 6.1.4. Face Recognition
- 6.2. Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast - by Application
- 6.2.1. Traffic and Transportation Management
- 6.2.2. Healthcare
- 6.2.3. Public Safety
- 6.2.4. Utilities
- 6.2.5. Other Applications
- 6.1. Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast - by Technology**
- 7. Europe Citizen Services AI Industry Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2019-2031
- 7.1. Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast - by Technology**
- 7.1.1. Machine Learning
- 7.1.2. Natural Language Processing
- 7.1.3. Image Processing
- 7.1.4. Face Recognition
- 7.2. Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast - by Application
- 7.2.1. Traffic and Transportation Management
- 7.2.2. Healthcare
- 7.2.3. Public Safety
- 7.2.4. Utilities
- 7.2.5. Other Applications
- 7.1. Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast - by Technology**
- 8. Asia Pacific Citizen Services AI Industry Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2019-2031
- 8.1. Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast - by Technology**
- 8.1.1. Machine Learning
- 8.1.2. Natural Language Processing
- 8.1.3. Image Processing
- 8.1.4. Face Recognition
- 8.2. Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast - by Application
- 8.2.1. Traffic and Transportation Management
- 8.2.2. Healthcare
- 8.2.3. Public Safety
- 8.2.4. Utilities
- 8.2.5. Other Applications
- 8.1. Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast - by Technology**
- 9. Rest of the World Citizen Services AI Industry Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2019-2031
- 9.1. Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast - by Technology**
- 9.1.1. Machine Learning
- 9.1.2. Natural Language Processing
- 9.1.3. Image Processing
- 9.1.4. Face Recognition
- 9.2. Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast - by Application
- 9.2.1. Traffic and Transportation Management
- 9.2.2. Healthcare
- 9.2.3. Public Safety
- 9.2.4. Utilities
- 9.2.5. Other Applications
- 9.1. Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast - by Technology**
- 10. North America Citizen Services AI Industry Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2019-2031
- 10.1. Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast - By Country/Sub-region
- 10.1.1.
- 11. Europe Citizen Services AI Industry Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2019-2031
- 11.1. Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast - By Country/Sub-region
- 11.1.1.
- 12. Asia Pacific Citizen Services AI Industry Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2019-2031
- 12.1. Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast - By Country/Sub-region
- 12.1.1.
- 13. Rest of the World Citizen Services AI Industry Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2019-2031
- 13.1. Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast - By Country/Sub-region
- 13.1.1.
- 14. Competitive Analysis
- 14.1. Global Market Share Analysis 2024
- 14.2. Company Profiles
- 14.2.1 Baidu Inc
- 14.2.1.1. Overview
- 14.2.1.2. Products
- 14.2.1.3. SWOT Analysis
- 14.2.1.4. Recent Developments
- 14.2.1.5. Financials (Based on Availability)
- 14.2.2 Accenture PLC
- 14.2.2.1. Overview
- 14.2.2.2. Products
- 14.2.2.3. SWOT Analysis
- 14.2.2.4. Recent Developments
- 14.2.2.5. Financials (Based on Availability)
- 14.2.3 IBM Corporation
- 14.2.3.1. Overview
- 14.2.3.2. Products
- 14.2.3.3. SWOT Analysis
- 14.2.3.4. Recent Developments
- 14.2.3.5. Financials (Based on Availability)
- 14.2.4 Alibaba Group Holding Limited
- 14.2.4.1. Overview
- 14.2.4.2. Products
- 14.2.4.3. SWOT Analysis
- 14.2.4.4. Recent Developments
- 14.2.4.5. Financials (Based on Availability)
- 14.2.5 Microsoft Corporation
- 14.2.5.1. Overview
- 14.2.5.2. Products
- 14.2.5.3. SWOT Analysis
- 14.2.5.4. Recent Developments
- 14.2.5.5. Financials (Based on Availability)
- 14.2.6 Tencent Holdings Ltd
- 14.2.6.1. Overview
- 14.2.6.2. Products
- 14.2.6.3. SWOT Analysis
- 14.2.6.4. Recent Developments
- 14.2.6.5. Financials (Based on Availability)
- 14.2.7 Pegasystems Inc
- 14.2.7.1. Overview
- 14.2.7.2. Products
- 14.2.7.3. SWOT Analysis
- 14.2.7.4. Recent Developments
- 14.2.7.5. Financials (Based on Availability)
- 14.2.8 ServiceNow Inc
- 14.2.8.1. Overview
- 14.2.8.2. Products
- 14.2.8.3. SWOT Analysis
- 14.2.8.4. Recent Developments
- 14.2.8.5. Financials (Based on Availability)
- 14.2.9 Nvidia Corporation
- 14.2.9.1. Overview
- 14.2.9.2. Products
- 14.2.9.3. SWOT Analysis
- 14.2.9.4. Recent Developments
- 14.2.9.5. Financials (Based on Availability)
- 14.2.10 Intel Corporation
- 14.2.10.1. Overview
- 14.2.10.2. Products
- 14.2.10.3. SWOT Analysis
- 14.2.10.4. Recent Developments
- 14.2.10.5. Financials (Based on Availability)
- 14.2.1 Baidu Inc
List of Figures
- Figure 1: Global Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue Breakdown (Million, %) by Region 2024 & 2032
- Figure 2: North America Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue (Million), by Country 2024 & 2032
- Figure 3: North America Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue Share (%), by Country 2024 & 2032
- Figure 4: Europe Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue (Million), by Country 2024 & 2032
- Figure 5: Europe Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue Share (%), by Country 2024 & 2032
- Figure 6: Asia Pacific Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue (Million), by Country 2024 & 2032
- Figure 7: Asia Pacific Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue Share (%), by Country 2024 & 2032
- Figure 8: Rest of the World Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue (Million), by Country 2024 & 2032
- Figure 9: Rest of the World Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue Share (%), by Country 2024 & 2032
- Figure 10: North America Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue (Million), by Technology** 2024 & 2032
- Figure 11: North America Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue Share (%), by Technology** 2024 & 2032
- Figure 12: North America Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue (Million), by Application 2024 & 2032
- Figure 13: North America Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue Share (%), by Application 2024 & 2032
- Figure 14: North America Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue (Million), by Country 2024 & 2032
- Figure 15: North America Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue Share (%), by Country 2024 & 2032
- Figure 16: Europe Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue (Million), by Technology** 2024 & 2032
- Figure 17: Europe Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue Share (%), by Technology** 2024 & 2032
- Figure 18: Europe Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue (Million), by Application 2024 & 2032
- Figure 19: Europe Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue Share (%), by Application 2024 & 2032
- Figure 20: Europe Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue (Million), by Country 2024 & 2032
- Figure 21: Europe Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue Share (%), by Country 2024 & 2032
- Figure 22: Asia Pacific Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue (Million), by Technology** 2024 & 2032
- Figure 23: Asia Pacific Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue Share (%), by Technology** 2024 & 2032
- Figure 24: Asia Pacific Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue (Million), by Application 2024 & 2032
- Figure 25: Asia Pacific Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue Share (%), by Application 2024 & 2032
- Figure 26: Asia Pacific Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue (Million), by Country 2024 & 2032
- Figure 27: Asia Pacific Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue Share (%), by Country 2024 & 2032
- Figure 28: Rest of the World Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue (Million), by Technology** 2024 & 2032
- Figure 29: Rest of the World Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue Share (%), by Technology** 2024 & 2032
- Figure 30: Rest of the World Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue (Million), by Application 2024 & 2032
- Figure 31: Rest of the World Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue Share (%), by Application 2024 & 2032
- Figure 32: Rest of the World Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue (Million), by Country 2024 & 2032
- Figure 33: Rest of the World Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue Share (%), by Country 2024 & 2032
List of Tables
- Table 1: Global Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue Million Forecast, by Region 2019 & 2032
- Table 2: Global Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue Million Forecast, by Technology** 2019 & 2032
- Table 3: Global Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue Million Forecast, by Application 2019 & 2032
- Table 4: Global Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue Million Forecast, by Region 2019 & 2032
- Table 5: Global Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue Million Forecast, by Country 2019 & 2032
- Table 6: Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue (Million) Forecast, by Application 2019 & 2032
- Table 7: Global Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue Million Forecast, by Country 2019 & 2032
- Table 8: Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue (Million) Forecast, by Application 2019 & 2032
- Table 9: Global Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue Million Forecast, by Country 2019 & 2032
- Table 10: Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue (Million) Forecast, by Application 2019 & 2032
- Table 11: Global Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue Million Forecast, by Country 2019 & 2032
- Table 12: Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue (Million) Forecast, by Application 2019 & 2032
- Table 13: Global Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue Million Forecast, by Technology** 2019 & 2032
- Table 14: Global Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue Million Forecast, by Application 2019 & 2032
- Table 15: Global Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue Million Forecast, by Country 2019 & 2032
- Table 16: Global Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue Million Forecast, by Technology** 2019 & 2032
- Table 17: Global Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue Million Forecast, by Application 2019 & 2032
- Table 18: Global Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue Million Forecast, by Country 2019 & 2032
- Table 19: Global Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue Million Forecast, by Technology** 2019 & 2032
- Table 20: Global Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue Million Forecast, by Application 2019 & 2032
- Table 21: Global Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue Million Forecast, by Country 2019 & 2032
- Table 22: Global Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue Million Forecast, by Technology** 2019 & 2032
- Table 23: Global Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue Million Forecast, by Application 2019 & 2032
- Table 24: Global Citizen Services AI Industry Revenue Million Forecast, by Country 2019 & 2032
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the projected Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of the Citizen Services AI Industry?
The projected CAGR is approximately 35.06%.
2. Which companies are prominent players in the Citizen Services AI Industry?
Key companies in the market include Baidu Inc, Accenture PLC, IBM Corporation, Alibaba Group Holding Limited, Microsoft Corporation, Tencent Holdings Ltd, Pegasystems Inc, ServiceNow Inc, Nvidia Corporation, Intel Corporation.
3. What are the main segments of the Citizen Services AI Industry?
The market segments include Technology**, Application.
4. Can you provide details about the market size?
The market size is estimated to be USD 11.10 Million as of 2022.
5. What are some drivers contributing to market growth?
; Increasing Demand for IT Modernization and Automation; Integration of AI and Analytics With Citizen Services.
6. What are the notable trends driving market growth?
Adoption of Cloud-based AI for Citizen Service to Expected to Drive the Market.
7. Are there any restraints impacting market growth?
; Lack of Awareness Among Government Organizations About New Technologies.
8. Can you provide examples of recent developments in the market?
N/A
9. What pricing options are available for accessing the report?
Pricing options include single-user, multi-user, and enterprise licenses priced at USD 4750, USD 5250, and USD 8750 respectively.
10. Is the market size provided in terms of value or volume?
The market size is provided in terms of value, measured in Million.
11. Are there any specific market keywords associated with the report?
Yes, the market keyword associated with the report is "Citizen Services AI Industry," which aids in identifying and referencing the specific market segment covered.
12. How do I determine which pricing option suits my needs best?
The pricing options vary based on user requirements and access needs. Individual users may opt for single-user licenses, while businesses requiring broader access may choose multi-user or enterprise licenses for cost-effective access to the report.
13. Are there any additional resources or data provided in the Citizen Services AI Industry report?
While the report offers comprehensive insights, it's advisable to review the specific contents or supplementary materials provided to ascertain if additional resources or data are available.
14. How can I stay updated on further developments or reports in the Citizen Services AI Industry?
To stay informed about further developments, trends, and reports in the Citizen Services AI Industry, consider subscribing to industry newsletters, following relevant companies and organizations, or regularly checking reputable industry news sources and publications.
Methodology
Step 1 - Identification of Relevant Samples Size from Population Database



Step 2 - Approaches for Defining Global Market Size (Value, Volume* & Price*)

Note*: In applicable scenarios
Step 3 - Data Sources
Primary Research
- Web Analytics
- Survey Reports
- Research Institute
- Latest Research Reports
- Opinion Leaders
Secondary Research
- Annual Reports
- White Paper
- Latest Press Release
- Industry Association
- Paid Database
- Investor Presentations

Step 4 - Data Triangulation
Involves using different sources of information in order to increase the validity of a study
These sources are likely to be stakeholders in a program - participants, other researchers, program staff, other community members, and so on.
Then we put all data in single framework & apply various statistical tools to find out the dynamic on the market.
During the analysis stage, feedback from the stakeholder groups would be compared to determine areas of agreement as well as areas of divergence