Artificial Intelligence
Doing less with less: Coping with federal cutbacks and fiscal uncertainty
COMMENTARY | Shrinking revenues and rising costs put state and local governments in a bind, especially as the federal government retreats. Strategic austerity might be the path forward.
How states can prepare to leverage AI for benefits eligibility
As benefits application backlogs continue to mount, artificial intelligence could help ease the squeeze on already strained caseworkers, experts say.
California regulator weakens AI rules, giving Big Tech more leeway to track you
Pressure from the governor preceded the AI regulation retreat. Big tech gets more leeway to help make decisions or target ads.
Problem solved: How data makes cities more efficient, effective and attuned to AI
COMMENTARY | If the public sector wants to operate at peak performance, it must harness its data and deploy it across all its functions. Cities across the world are showing what is possible.
Data centers defend environmental record amid AI push
Several states are worried about the power and water impacts of the centers needed to power the technology. But the industry moved to assure those concerned that they have it under control.
Building a pipeline of state and local tech workers
States continue to fret about the brain drain from a generation of retirees. But some are thinking hard about how to get the next generation in, whether they be early-career employees or existing ones in need of new skills.
How tech sped up Honolulu’s housing permits
Using automation to pre-screen applications has brought the pre-check process down to a matter of days, while AI helps reviewers check code compliance in a more streamlined way.
AI could be key to quicker disease detection and treatment, expert says
A new partnership between the University of Pittsburgh and Leidos aims to advance public health disease monitoring by developing artificial intelligence-enabled detection tools.
Minneapolis automates food permitting, removes ‘two-feet high’ paper stack
Having previously relied on handwritten permit applications and taking payment by phone, the city now uses cloud-based software to automate much of the process and make it more efficient.
Companies announce billions in investments to support emerging tech
The new corporate investments pledged to U.S. manufacturing aim to support the country’s growing artificial intelligence innovation ecosystem, among others.
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Tech companies partner to help agencies cut through digital evidence backlogs
A new initiative aims to address workforce shortages among law enforcement agencies that impact their ability to efficiently manage digital evidence like body camera footage.
Nevada turns to AI to speed up unemployment appeals
The state partnered with Google Public Sector on a system that analyzes appeals hearings against state and federal law to help adjudicators reach a decision. They say it’s made the process four times quicker.
With AI on the rise, Texas House passes bill requiring more transparency in political ads
The bill faced fierce opposition from hardline conservatives who say it is policing speech and could allow the state to jail people over silly political memes.
California city turns to AI to meet housing goals
By automating parts of the housing permitting process, officials in the city of Corona hope to reduce administrative burdens for staff and encourage development among consumers.
Survey: Law enforcement surveillance technology is rapidly progressing, but AI raises concerns
A recent survey has found that as artificial intelligence tools are developed, law enforcement and local officials in Michigan are raising concerns over privacy and accuracy.
People fear AI taking jobs more than AI threatening humanity
Most people generally are more concerned about the immediate risks of artificial intelligence than they are about a theoretical future in which AI threatens humanity, researchers report.
Trump unveils sweeping order to bring AI into US education
The executive order forms a new task force and leverages existing grant programs focused on improving AI education in the U.S.
Los Angeles turns to AI to give public benefits enrollment a boost
A chatbot tool launched in Los Angeles County looks to help case workers more quickly and efficiently get vulnerable residents linked to social services.
States explore uneven approaches to AI regulations
New York Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli warned his state is unprepared to use the technology and needs more guardrails, while Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed a bill implementing guardrails in his state.
Governor rejects fast-track for small nuclear reactors at Arizona data centers
Katie Hobbs vetoes Arizona small modular nuclear reactor veto bill that would have exempted unproven technology from environmental review.
