Survey highlights potential benefits, concerns about artificial intelligence for cities and counties

It appears that artificial intelligence (AI) is everything, everywhere and in every product the vendor community would have us buy. However, despite the hype, few dismiss it as just another high-tech fad. Indeed, some believe it is the third (or fourth) wave, depending on how one is counting in the ever-evolving digital age.

As early as 2016, the National Science and Technology Council laid out a strategic plan for federally funded AI. In 2019 the American AI Initiative was promulgated through an executive order setting a strategy for AI development in the U.S., emphasizing American leadership in AI, setting AI research and development priorities, and developing AI regulatory guidelines. And in 2020, the National AI Initiative Act was passed that was aimed to bolster AI research, standards, and education. Today many federal agencies are grappling with AI in many ways and one can see many of these initiatives by simply going to www.aI.gov. Like many innovations, what happens at the federal level impacts and influences state and local government.

With so much conversation about artificial intelligence as the next “big thing” in local government IT, the Public Technology Institute wanted to gain a better understanding on how city and county IT executives view AI. In August, PTI conducted the very first survey on AI directly focused on cities and counties across the United States. Perhaps not surprisingly, this short survey received the highest response rate of any survey in PTI’s 50+ year history. Of those responding, 58 percent of local government IT executives believe AI will bring dramatic change to local government operations and service delivery over the next three years, while 62 percent said they are not currently involved in any projects. A surprising 38 percent said they were.

When it comes to the concerns and benefits of AI, survey participants were asked to rank order from a pre-determined list of seven key areas, from most concerning to least concerning. Not surprising, ethics was ranked No. 1, followed by unauthorized use of personally identifiable information, wrong and harmful decision-making, misinformation/disinformation and bias.

In wanting to learn more about how IT executives feel regarding local government functions and operations and how local governments could benefit most from AI, survey participants were asked to rank each function from most to the least among a list of 10 choices. Based on the average weighting of the data collected, of the top five benefits that were selected, cybersecurity management ranked No. 1. Data analysis was second on the list, followed by citizen engagement, predictive analytics in crime prevention and improved decision making.

To read the complete article, visit American City & County.