Dive Brief:
- The Atlanta City Council unanimously voted on Monday to establish an artificial intelligence commission to explore how the city can incorporate AI into its operations.
- The commission will convene at least once a month starting no later than February 2025 and will produce a report by February 2026 detailing opportunities for using AI in city government, including potential benefits and challenges.
- The group will comprise 13 individuals, including Atlanta’s chief information officer, Georgia’s chief digital and AI officer, experts from the state’s universities and multiple members appointed by the city’s mayor and council members from each district.
Dive Insight:
Although the concept of AI has been around since the 1950s, it has in recent years become more popular due to the large amount of data available, advanced algorithms and computational improvements, according to the Atlanta City Council resolution to form an AI commission. Cities can use AI for applications such as optimizing traffic flow, reducing energy consumption and streamlining administrative tasks, said National League of Cities CEO and Executive Director Clarence Anthony in a November report on municipal AI use published by NLC and Google.
Atlanta is already leveraging some AI-driven technologies. After two water main breaks this summer, officials said the city would pilot AI-enhanced devices that can detect future leaks before they intensify, according to Atlanta News First.
The city’s newly approved commission reflects the attitude of many local officials and technology experts in the U.S.: Embrace the opportunities of AI, but proceed with caution.
“With intentional use of AI, city leaders can reduce repetitive tasks and make government operations more efficient, enabling time and resources to be invested back into communities to address resident needs,” Rochelle Haynes, managing director of Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities Certification program, wrote in a public letter to city leaders earlier this year. Among the advice Haynes offered was for cities to create clear guidelines for staff on how to use AI tools responsibly.
