CCM AI Tool-Kit: Examples

AI Application in Local Government

The use of AI in the governmental sphere are becoming increasingly more common. According to a survey from the Center for Digital Government from 2022, the majority of agencies at the local and state level either currently, or plan to use, chatbots in the near future. Originally designed to answer specific questions from an FAQ, chatbots have evolved and can now process and answer a much broader range of answers. Modern chatbots are capable of using information specific to a jurisdiction in order to provide more tailored responses. AI is also helpful in the realm of digital tools. For example, the city of San Jose uses a real-time audio transcription that automatically translates to other languages during city council meetings. Other AI tools can provide speech-to-text or image-to-speech conversions to make resources more accessible to people with reading, visual, or cognitive disabilities.

AI can be used to provide traffic analysis to improve traffic flow and reduce CO2 emissions. The tools used to achieve this include predictive road maintenance, identifying inefficient signal timings, optimizing bus routes, and enforcing parking and speed limits. An AI traffic project funded by the U.S. Department of Energy was completed in Chattanooga, Tennessee on a targeted route. The result was a 32% reduction in traffic delays.

Generative AI is a tool, and you are responsible for the outcomes of your tools.

AI has been used been used for maintenance and classification of municipal water infrastructure. Examples include predicting pipe failures, smart irrigation systems, and automated inventories of service lines. There is currently a commercial AI tool that utilizes geographic information system (GIS) data, historical pipe failure records, and soil conditions in order to identify pipes that are at risk of failing or that may contain harmful substances or materials. As these tools become increasingly common and accepted, it’s important to elevate community involvement into their application.

Guidelines on Generative AI for Local Government

Generative AI tools are built by training a sophisticated algorithm called a Large Language Model (LLM) on a very large volume of data from the internet and other sources. This machine learning algorithm is designed to find patterns within the data to predict what outcome satisfies a given question or “prompt.” They are trained not only on text data but also images, code, and videos. They also use the information provided in the prompt by the user to train their algorithm further. The output of these tools is usually text but can also be images, videos, or files. The underlying algorithms used in generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot may also be integrated “under the hood” of other software.

The most significant takeaway to remember is that Generative AI is a tool. This is the same if autocorrect alters the meaning of your text; you are still responsible for the final content. The technology is a tool that does not excuse or replace your judgment or accountability. Therefore, make sure that you fact-check and review all content generated by AI.

It is a best practice to treat AI-generated content as rough drafts. AI is not perfect and often makes mistakes, responsibility falls upon you to correct its errors. Furthermore, be clear and transparent that your content has been produced by AI when you decide to utilize it. For example, you could insert the following disclaimer: “Parts of this document were drafted by GPT/Gemini/etc. and reviewed by the author. The author takes full responsibility for the content of this document.”

Finally, you should not share private or confidential information with AI in the prompts that you provide to it. AI can be a helpful tool if used responsibly.