Artificial Intelligence
These stories will explore what state and local government officials need to consider when developing policies on the use of artificial intelligence (AI). This will include analysis of where traditional AI, as well as generative AI, can contribute to the mission of government, and what guardrails should be put in place around its use.
Getting ticketed by AI cameras using license plate data was never popular. Now there are concerns about financial mismanagement and a lawsuit between vendors that ran the program in Mississippi.
Senators voted 99-1 to strike the ban from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. It would have blocked state and local governments from regulating AI for a decade.
Cities are banning landlords from setting rental prices based on algorithms and non-public data, which tenants complain have led to drastic spikes.
In contrast to what’s going on in Washington, state and local leaders are leveraging the technology to make government genuinely work better.
Philadelphia, San Francisco and Berkeley, Calif., have also banned algorithms that can lead to price-gouging, with similar proposals brewing in other major cities.
The course of legislation in Virginia and Texas suggests a way forward in regulating AI without stifling innovation.
Trump repealed a Biden order calling for protection against bias. While companies welcome deregulation, some are concerned about the administration's six-month timeline to reshape guidelines.
Some programmers and engineers are willing to forego private-sector pay to find meaningful work. But governments need to be more nimble about hiring.
The Department of Education denied an application from a cyber charter school that would have been part of a multistate network. Classes would have been led by AI tutors with humans serving as “guides.”
AI caused less damage through misinformation or election administration than predicted in 2024. New laws meant to combat political deepfakes, meanwhile, went largely unenforced.
Even the most basic computing tasks require electrical power. The level of computing that drives today’s economy is far from basic.
Artificial intelligence systems require consistent monitoring and staffing to put in place and to keep them working well. The need for people and more machines to make sure new tools don’t mess up is leading to increased costs for hospitals.
Last year, about a quarter of all health insurance claims were denied in California. A new law blocks coverage denials made solely through artificial intelligence.
All but two states completed a review, but only 22 states reached or surpassed the recommended minimum levels of security in their systems.
Trump will take a largely deregulatory approach to tech, while aiming to aggressively pursue foreign cyber threat actors.
Innovation must come with transparency, safeguards and human oversight. We need to deploy the technology in ways that enhance rather than erode public confidence in the justice system.
Future in Context
The Gates Foundation’s Allan Golston outlines a vision for equitable opportunities and the future of the American dream. As the transformative power of generative AI becomes clear, equitable access to education and jobs remains crucial.
The AI revolution presents great opportunities for cities with the right combination of strengths. Pittsburgh is showing what’s possible.
Schools across the nation are encouraging students to use artificial intelligence. In San Diego, Calif., teachers help students learn the benefits and consequences of AI use in daily life.
Fear and confusion in the aftermath of disasters create fertile ground for misinformation. Social media and AI can amplify it, but there are ways to weather the storm.
Pittsburgh has a new policy that bars city employees from using generative AI tools with sensitive data from residents. But every state and locality has their own set of rules as there is no federal law to regulate the development and use of AI.
Connecticut State Sen. James Maroney is leading efforts to establish a nationwide consortium to discuss policy measures in response to artificial intelligence technologies.
The Santa Fe School Board unveiled a plan that will provide teachers with artificial intelligence tools to help in the classroom, in some cases allowing students to use AI on assignments as a “co-pilot to enhance human creativity.”
Michael Makstman has been the city’s new chief information officer since July and hopes to establish citywide standards and procedures for IT while also balancing a range of technology from AI to floppy disks.
The former steel capital has already made the transition to advanced manufacturing. Its combination of tech talent, universities and power sources make it well-equipped to be a leader in AI.
Future in Context
The organization that popularized civic hackathons is now taking on the responsible use of AI in government. Code for America draws on the collective expertise of the public, tech and nonprofit sectors to tackle societal challenges.
Sonoma County officials hope the new policy will act as a guide for how to appropriately use AI technology for emails, reports, job descriptions, spreadsheet calculations and more. But the policy prohibits using confidential or specific county information.
A poll found that 56 percent of California Latinos see artificial intelligence as “just a new tool,” while the remaining 44 percent said the tech was a bad idea and would cost people jobs.
Deepfake images and videos are just one way AI could disrupt the upcoming election. Experts are highlighting risks that could cause bigger problems and helping election officials prepare for them.
It can help in a range of ways, from identifying competitive advantages to training the workforce that will be needed for success. But it can’t replace human judgment.
JusticeText aims to improve the efficiency of legal defense by using automated transcription services and case management tools to streamline case evidence organization. The software is only available to public defenders.
