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.

How to buy ed tech that isn't evil

As schools look to educational technology to enhance student learning, administrators must first consider the safety and effectiveness of any product before bringing it in the classroom.

Deepfakes: Events that never happened could influence the 2024 presidential election

COMMENTARY | AI can manipulate a real event or invent one from thin air to create a ‘situation deepfake.’ These deepfakes threaten to influence upcoming elections, cybersecurity experts warn.

As employers expand artificial intelligence in hiring, few states have rules

Legislators are ‘late to the party’ on laws concerning artificial intelligence.

AI scam calls imitating familiar voices are a growing problem—here’s how they work

COMMENTARY | Artificial intelligence can generate synthetic voices, and scammers are using the technology to trick unsuspecting victims.

When it comes to employment decisions, it's not just AI that may have biases

New York City’s new law meant to reduce AI-based discriminatory hiring practices is incomplete, experts say. The legislation fails to address human bias, among other loopholes.

Agency execs strive to maintain modernization momentum

Government leaders want to keep up the pace of COVID-era innovation, but do so more securely, a new report finds.

Don’t fear AI, but prepare for its wider use

Governments should help build a talent pipeline for artificial intelligence jobs, one expert advises.

US agencies buy vast quantities of personal information on the open market

COMMENTARY | The government faces legal restrictions on how much personal information it can gather on citizens, but the law is largely silent on agencies purchasing the data from commercial brokers.

Chatbots can be used to create manipulative content

COMMENTARY | Artificial intelligence could be used to generate content intended to manipulate people. Addressing this problem means understanding how communication works to influence people.