Artificial intelligence
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.
What is generative AI? Most of the public sector workforce doesn’t know
A recent survey found that only about a third understands the technology, and that even fewer use it daily. But a few basic approaches could change that, experts say.
Was Los Angeles schools’ $6 million AI venture a disaster waiting to happen?
The vision for what the much-hyped chatbot could do is ‘really not possible with where the technology is today,’ one insider says.
Governors seek more say over grid planning process
As states scramble to find reliable sources of electric power amid ever-growing demand for energy, four Democratic governors are seeking more say in their regional electric grid operator's future planning.
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.
¿Cómo Se Dice? California loops in AI to translate health care information
State health policy officials hope to save money and make critical health care forms, applications, websites and other information available to more people in what they call the nation’s most linguistically diverse state.
No shortcuts: Only well-managed AI will deliver on its promise
COMMENTARY | Artificial intelligence opens new opportunities for policymaking and service delivery, but success still depends on understanding residents’ needs and on the thoughtful handling of their data.
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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Proposed federal AI roadmap would fund local election offices
Amid warnings that artificial intelligence could “totally discredit our election systems,” a group of U.S. senators released a sprawling roadmap that includes grant funding to keep elections safe from AI.
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.
Meet Emma, Amarillo’s AI assistant and ‘digital human’
The Texas city’s generative artificial intelligence assistant will assist residents through voice conversations in multiple languages.
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.
Colorado becomes first state with sweeping artificial intelligence regulations
The law attempts to mitigate algorithmic discrimination in AI systems that make consequential decisions related to hiring, banking and housing.
With the rise of AI, workforce planning is critical. But many governments don’t do it.
That’s a problem when state and local government officials are seeing daily evidence that the nature of their workforce is quickly changing.
A glimpse at the ‘human-machine partnership’
Lots has been said about the ways in which artificial intelligence may augment employees’ work. But first, local governments will need to successfully manage the learning curve.
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.”
