A new report from the National League of Cities (NLC) finds that local governments are using artificial intelligence (AI) to optimize city services.
The AI in Cities report, produced in partnership with Google, highlights the practical ways that local governments are maximizing the use of AI, including improving traffic systems and enhancing public safety.
The report also provides a toolkit designed to help local leaders adopt the use of AI effectively and efficiently.
“Technology has always been an essential tool to help local governments respond to the changing needs of their residents,” said NLC CEO and Executive Director Clarence E. Anthony. “Our Artificial Intelligence report is a collection of both the potential pitfalls and the overwhelming opportunities that exist for our local communities with AI. As part of NLC’s centennial celebration, we are focused on helping local officials prepare for the next chapter in local governance.”
The report was drafted with input from local leaders that serve on NLC’s AI Advisory Committee.
The report is divided into four main categories. At the start NLC provides local leaders with a foundation background. Next, NLC provides a model for responsible use of AI, including information about the risks of AI and examples of how local governments are effectively mitigating risks. The NLC then provides examples of the ways local governments are using AI to improve city services for both city employees and residents. Finally, NLC provides use cases of AI from outside of the United States.
In the toolkit, the NLC features tools to help local government analyze how their city is currently using AI, assess their city’s current capabilities for AI use, develop guidance and policies to govern the use of AI, and steps on how to organize public engagement opportunities for AI. For each tool in the toolkit, NLC addresses both the purpose of the tool – why it was included in the toolkit – and how cities can go about implementing and using the tool most effectively.
