Artificial intelligence
Why humans can’t trust AI: You don’t know how it works, what it’s going to do or whether it’ll serve your interests
COMMENTARY | People can trust each other because they understand how the human mind works, can predict people’s behavior and assume that most people have a moral sense. None of these things are true of AI.
How generative AI is being used to put the humanity back into government
Non-English speaking residents of Minnesota can more easily access driver and vehicle services thanks to a new generative AI-based virtual assistant that automatically translates English into Hmong, Spanish and Somali.
California looks to preserve its role as ‘global hub’ for generative AI
An executive order issued by Gov. Gavin Newsom looks to create replicable guidelines for the ethical and responsible use of generative AI in state government.
How 911 innovations improve dispatchers’ lives and keep communities safe
COMMENTARY | Using technology to divert administrative and non-emergency calls from 911 centers keeps crews focused on their high impact jobs and makes it easier for communities to hire and retain qualified dispatchers.
3 low-risk, low-budget ways state and local governments can protect their data
COMMENTARY | By taking advantage of federal resources and leaning into autonomous technology and cybersecurity education, agencies can keep constituent data safe.
Regulate AI? Here’s what states need to know
A new report by the National Conference of State Legislatures provides a primer for lawmakers on how they might approach oversight of artificial intelligence.
AI can help forecast air quality, but freak events like 2023’s summer of wildfire smoke require traditional methods too
COMMENTARY | As state and local governments grapple with worsening wildfire conditions, one expert says a combination of machine learning and chemical transport models can produce more accurate air quality forecasts.
Unless states act soon, the ‘AI rich’ will ‘only get richer’
The industry is currently concentrated in only a handful of places in the U.S. States can change that.
Re-imagining democracy for the 21st century, possibly without the trappings of the 18th century
COMMENTARY | The modern representative democracy was the best form of government mid-18th-century technology could invent. The 21st century is a different place scientifically, technically and socially.
Digital twins: Debunking 4 common myths
COMMENTARY | State and local agencies can use digital twins to run detailed analysis of planned roadways, housing developments and facilities to spot hidden issues.
Giving AI direct control over anything is a bad idea—here’s how it could do us real harm
COMMENTARY | For executive decision-making, artificial intelligence is still no match for emotional intelligence. The latter, one expert says, is crucial for a holistic approach to project management.
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