Emerging Tech
Rescue from above: How drones may narrow emergency response times
While research has often found that drones arrive faster than first responders, there’s little conclusive evidence that drones improve health outcomes.
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Eliminate Manual Processes Route and Approve Invoices from Anywhere
Today’s finance teams carry a heavy burden, supporting everything from growth strategies to long-term planning – all while continuously delivering monthly and quarterly numbers and keeping cash flowing. But even as demands on finance departments grow, many still spend excessive time using paper, spreadsheets, and e-mails to process vendor invoices, approvals, and payments.
Billions in US funding boosts lithium mining, stressing water supplies
The energy transition is driving demand for batteries; funding from the Inflation Reduction Act and other federal programs is helping to fill it.
AI and the power of intelligent voice
COMMENTARY | The new category in artificial intelligence, conversational AI, has governments captivated. Here are some of the ways they are thinking of using AI-powered voice communications.
How AI can help and hurt the environment
Artificial intelligence could put a greater strain on electricity, water and other resources already under pressure from data centers. But the technology also presents opportunities to address environmental challenges.
In this county, AI is its ‘institutional knowledge in a box’
The way Washoe County, Nevada, is using artificial intelligence may not be flashy or innovative, but its “boring” approach is leading to better customer service and, maybe, more transformative projects down the road.
Don’t rush into AI experiments too quickly, experts say
Speakers at Route Fifty’s latest Innovation Spotlight cautioned the need to balance innovation in artificial intelligence with good governance, despite the desire for adoption to happen quicker.
Massachusetts is expanding its pathbreaking vehicle fleet electrification program
The Massachusetts Fleet Advisor program, which helps small businesses, nonprofits and municipalities transition to electric vehicles, recently received $5 million in federal funding.
3D visualization predicts hurricane damage before it happens
By applying this technology to coastal communities or community buildings, such as schools and stores, researchers can help residents and officials create a plan for hurricane season.
It’s time to take a serious look at esports gaming
The growing popularity of competitive video games is creating opportunities for governments at all levels. It builds skills, fosters community at local rec centers and schools and even boosts tourism.
AI in law enforcement is risky, but holds promise
Leaders should not be reluctant to use AI in controversial applications, even if they risk blowback, one city’s CIO advises.
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To drive revenue, cities turn to tech to fix their parking problems
Parking brings in $3 billion a year for state and local governments. That's why they are using new technologies to help push parking reforms aimed at streamlining enforcement and increasing revenues and environmental friendliness.
As hype intensifies, cities put AI to the test
A recent gathering of local officials shed some light on how cities are using artificial intelligence today and how they plan to use it.
AI guardrails vs. ‘guiderails’: Navigating the curvy road ahead
COMMENTARY | Rather than focusing on guardrails, which try to prevent undesirable outcomes, agencies should consider more proactive guiderails that make generative AI safe and easy to use.
HUD warns on AI-fueled housing discrimination
The Department of Housing and Urban Development confirmed characteristics like race and income are protected from AI algorithmic discrimination.
This state’s ‘unsexy’ AI policy takes transparency to the next level
From AI “nutrition labels” to keeping an inventory of artificial intelligence tools, Connecticut is embracing sweeping rules that would “talk to people about why we're using it, how we're using it.”
How states can take a ‘quantum’ leap in economic development
Governments are eyeing quantum technology as a way to boost jobs and their economies. But adopting the hard to understand technology, one expert says, will require educating and upskilling your workforce.
Generative AI steps up as a ‘facilitator’
The Texas Department of Public Safety now uses a generative AI-powered chatbot to streamline procurement. And Polco is rolling out a tool to connect city leaders with survey data so they can see how they stack up against others.
Banning TikTok won’t solve social media’s foreign influence, teen harm and data privacy problems
COMMENTARY | Protecting Americans cannot be accomplished by banning a single app. To truly protect their constituents, lawmakers would need to enact broad, far-reaching regulation.
Making AI better than us—What could possibly go wrong?
COMMENTARY | Trained on data scraped from all corners of the internet, today’s generative AI applications are rife with biased data. Developing a trustworthy AI framework requires cross-sector collaboration.
In one city, litter meets its mechanical match
A pilot program in Detroit has enlisted a trash removal robot to reduce plastic pollution on the beach from entering local waterways.
