Innovation

31 communities tapped as innovation hub finalists

The Biden administration expects the innovation hubs to spur scientific and technological innovation in communities across the country, including small and rural areas and those with historically underserved populations.

  • By Kery Murakami

State IT leaders honored in annual awards

NASCIO rewarded states’ efforts to use tech to help make government work better for its residents in areas like resident engagement, digital services, data analytics and identity management.

  • By Chris Teale

What is artificial intelligence? Legislators are still looking for a definition.

States grapple with understanding the technology so they can put rules in place.

  • By Madyson Fitzgerald, Stateline

Augmented, not artificial, intelligence should be government leaders’ priority

AI should be seen as a “co-pilot, not an autopilot,” said local officials at an event this week, adding that it could be crucial amidst a government workforce shortage.

  • By Chris Teale

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.

  • By Chris Teale

How local government can drive housing innovation

COMMENTARY | Raleigh, North Carolina, tapped into a nontraditional vendor pool to find new ways of using so-called granny flats to boost affordable housing.

  • By Nick Lyell

Homelessness could have a 3D-printed solution

An innovative pilot in Chattanooga aims to tackle the challenge of sheltering homeless residents.

  • By Kaitlyn Levinson

The 6 Fundamentals of an Effective Real-Time Crime Center

COMMENTARY | These centers, which can help police investigators develop leads and share crucial information with other officers and agencies, are becoming more common. Here's how to make them more effective.

  • By Johnmichael O’Hare

How AI Is Making One Smart City Even Smarter

Coral Gables, Florida, is leveraging the artificial intelligence chatbot, ChatGPT, to improve how it responds and interacts with citizens.

  • By Stephanie Kanowitz

AI in the Workplace: Local Officials Explore Responsible Use

As more governments experiment with artificial intelligence, local leaders are considering how to leverage AI’s benefits safely and responsibly.

  • By Kaitlyn Levinson

How Local Governments Can Rise to the Infrastructure Complexity Challenge

COMMENTARY | To take advantage of the federal government’s $2 trillion in investments, municipalities must think big, start small and scale fast.

  • By William D. Eggers and Kevin Pollari

A Recipe for Supporting Our Innovation Nation

COMMENTARY | How should the public and private sectors work together to ensure the U.S. remains the global leader in technology? Here are four key steps.

  • By Ahmad Thomas
Featured eBooks
The Changing Transportation Landscape
The Digital Transformation of State and Local Government
Generative AI in State and Local Government

Not Super Creative? Try This Approach

COMMENTARY | Looking at emotional situations in a different way can boost creativity among people who tend to think more conventionally, a study finds.

  • By Futurity

City’s Custom-built App Scores Homeless Encampment Safety

With the Homeless Emergency Management Tracking and Prioritization Tool, Austin gets consistent health, safety and impact data on encampments citywide to support cross-departmental intervention.

  • By Stephanie Kanowitz

2 Tricks Will Help You Learn and Remember New Stuff

COMMENTARY | There are two tried and true strategies to improve your learning, whether you're prepping for an exam or learning a new skill.

  • By Futurity

3D-Printed Homes Save Time, Money, State Pilot Shows

A potential solution to Virginia’s housing shortage comes from the nozzle of a 3D printer.

  • By Kaitlyn Levinson

Becoming a Future City

Route Fifty’s third annual Future Cities summit is Sept. 27-29. Join us to hear how local leaders from across the country are preparing for the opportunities and challenges of tomorrow.

  • By Alisha Powell Gillis

New Data Resource Focuses on Racial Wealth Gap

The Black Wealth Data Center consolidates different data sets to allow users to compare inequities across their communities and the nation.

  • By Molly Bolan

Utah Readies Mobile Driver’s License Rollout

While the technology for the mDL is ready, the challenge is creating an ecosystem of partners who accept the digital ID.

  • By Stephanie Kanowitz

Biden Spurs U.S. Biotechnology with New Order

In a surprise executive order, President Biden directed more federal resources to go toward establishing a competitive U.S. biomanufacturing sector to support independence in key input ingredients.

  • By Alexandra Kelley

White House Team Unveils New Recommendations for US Semiconductor Industry Growth

The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology introduced new advice to help successfully implement the CHIPS Act and develop an advanced U.S. semiconductor market.

  • By Alexandra Kelley