AI Is Here. Are City Leaders Ready?

by Polco Webinars on October 21, 2024

AI Is Here. Are City Leaders Ready? Webinar hosted by Polco and National League of Cities

As local governments face growing demands, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is emerging as a valuable tool to improve efficiency, decision-making, and public engagement. Once seen as futuristic, AI is already changing how city leaders can serve residents.

In this webinar recording hosted by Polco and the National League of Cities, thought leaders explore AI's potential in local governance. Angelica Wedell, Communications Director of Polco, is joined by CSO & Co-Founder Alex Pedersen, Principal Research Strategist Michelle Kobayashi, and guest speaker and government innovation coach Nick Kittle, CEO of Sustainovation. They highlight AI's transformative role in helping local governments better serve their communities.

Why AI Matters in Local Governance

AI is much more than a buzzword—it’s changing how local governments operate. By turning complex data into actionable insights, AI enables city leaders to make faster, smarter decisions.

Generative AI—AI that creates content from data—is particularly useful in local government. These systems can generate reports, analyze trends, and help cities respond to community needs more efficiently. Tools like Polco’s AI-powered Polly allow governments to quickly tap into large datasets and generate insights.

Applications of AI in Local Government

AI can streamline many tasks that would otherwise require significant time and resources. For instance, city leaders can use AI for:

Strategic Planning: AI generates data-driven strategic plans, ensuring that decisions are backed by real-time data.
Budgeting: AI helps create dynamic budgets, incorporating community feedback and adjusting based on changing priorities.
Grant Writing: AI identifies relevant grants and drafts proposals, helping under-resourced governments access additional funding.

Moreover, many local governments lack data analysts. AI fills this gap by offering insights that would take weeks or months for staff to compile manually.

Trust and Transparency in AI

Trust also plays a major role when using AI in government. AI systems must be transparent about how they use data and make decisions—the same goes for city leaders themselves. Advanced AI, such as Multi-Agent Retrieval Augmented Generative AI (RAG AI), integrates government data in real time, allowing for more current and reliable AI data information reporting.

As AI evolves, interactions are expected to move beyond text-based systems to voice and video interfaces, allowing city leaders to access data instantly during meetings or town halls.

Overcoming Barriers To AI Adoption

While AI offers significant potential, it has yet to be fully adopted by most local governments. Cities often face challenges when adopting new technologies, such as limited resources, expertise, or concerns about data privacy. Organization-wide AI adoption may also require a mindset shift. Governments can build confidence and demonstrate value by starting small—automating routine tasks or integrating AI into one department.

A Smarter Future for Local Governments

AI isn’t about replacing human workers—it’s about enhancing their capabilities. By starting with specific use cases, local governments can successfully integrate AI and reap the benefits of increased efficiency, better-informed decision-making, and improved public trust when acting transparently.

Your job is easier with the right information. Try Polco’s free data resources designed for local government leaders, including Polly, the AI analyst.