LGRC Palm Desert Awardee Savita Chaudhary: Top-5 Take Home Lessons from ICMA AI Conference
Author: Savita Chaudhary
Top-5 Take Home Lessons from ICMA AI Conference
The International City/County Management Association (ICMA) hosted its Local Government Reimagined Conference in Palm Springs from June 5-7, 2024, focusing on the theme "Get Ready for the Next Frontier...Generative AI. " The event brought together local government leaders to explore the potential of artificial intelligence in municipal operations. The presentations were engaging, prompting attendees to envision AI’s long-term impact on their cities and counties!
AI as an Augmentation Tool
A central theme throughout the conference was that AI should be viewed as an augmentation tool for public sector employees rather than a replacement. Various applications were highlighted, including permit approvals, administrative tasks, meeting summarization, and RFP writing. The “ Use of Artificial Intelligence in Local Government - Strategy and Tools” workshop offered insights into AI and Generative AI (GenAI), emphasizing their practical applications and the development of AI strategies. The goal is to enhance efficiency, allowing employees to focus on complex, strategic activities requiring human judgment.
Ethical Considerations and Policy Development
The session "A Working Guide to Generative AI in Local Government" examined the challenges and opportunities of GenAI and Large Language Models (LLMs) in policy-making. Discussions focused on the current state of generative AI practice, policy, and regulation, emphasizing the importance of addressing ethical considerations in AI deployment.
Enhancing Decision-Making
Sessions highlighted how AI can support data-driven decision-making in local government. Examples included using machine learning for property reassessment, predictive policing, traffic management, and natural language processing for analyzing public commentary on regulations. The concept of digital twins was also discussed as a tool for simulating environments and predicting outcomes. Speakers consistently emphasized the importance of maintaining human oversight in AI-assisted decision-making processes.
Data Privacy and Security
Several speakers emphasized the importance of transparency in AI use and the need for public awareness and education campaigns. As we implement AI solutions, we must be open about how we're using the technology and work to build public understanding and trust. While exploring the benefits of AI, we must remain vigilant about data privacy and security. Developing policy, which bans the use of personally identifiable information in generative AI experiments, was highlighted as an example of prioritizing privacy concerns.
Environmental Resilience and AI
One session explored how AI tools can enhance climate and disaster resilience in communities, introducing the Community Resilience Assessment Framework & Tools (CRAFT) methodology.
Looking Ahead
The ICMA conference has set the stage for local governments to embrace AI thoughtfully and responsibly, ushering in a new era of innovative public service delivery. The conference emphasized that AI is not a future technology but a present reality that local government leaders must address to enhance services and better serve their communities. The conference made it clear that AI technology is rapidly evolving, and our policies and approaches must adapt accordingly. I will encourage everyone to read and reflect on the presentation material posted on the event website- https://lgr.icma.org/palm-desert-presentation-materials .