Artificial intelligence (AI) has already had a significant impact on many industries. From health care to manufacturing to film, more and more private companies are implementing AI as a means to improve productivity, make smarter decisions and increase accuracy. It may be only a matter of time until state and local governments follow suit. So, how could AI play a role for cities and counties, and how can they use it responsibly?
AI: the new normal?
AI seems to be on the tip of everyone’s tongues, and with no wonder. The possibilities seem limitless when it comes to what the technology can do for its users. Just a few of the potential uses for AI among municipal entities could include:
- Communicating with residents: AI chatbots can communicate more naturally with constituents online, helping them with administrative processes.
- Fraud detection: Implementing AI to detect unusual patterns could indicate fraudulent activity.
- Data gathering and analysis: Agencies can use AI to target certain data sets and analyze them more accurately.
- Reducing unemployment: Some AI bots can help local job-seekers find jobs that suit their qualifications.
- Cybersecurity: With cyberattacks ramping up, AI can detect flaws in security systems to prevent attacks.
These are only a few of the most common ways that municipalities can make use of AI. As the technology advances – and it advances rapidly every day – even more uses will arise.
Texas is already responding to AI use
The Texas Department of Information Resources estimates that at least -third of Texas state agencies have used AI as of 2022. This summer, Gov. Abbott signed a law creating an advisory council to review the impact that AI may have on state agencies. The council will also explore ethics measures that may be necessary. As AI becomes more sophisticated and common, local officials will have to confront how and whether to use it in their own cities and counties.
