This study examines how citizens attribute blame to government authorities for administrative errors made by artificial intelligence (AI) compared to human decision-makers. Based on blame attribution theory, we conducted a vignette-based survey experiment with 1,098 Chinese citizens, revealing that respondents assign less blame for errors caused by AI or AI-assisted decisions. Additionally, disclosing victims’ deservingness information heightened blame attribution. These findings contribute to the literature on administrative accountability, highlighting how citizens respond to AI-related errors and informing the growing use of AI in public sector decision-making.