Eric Adams recently published a plan for the adoption and regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) in local government. He discusses its integration into various urban applications. On October 16, the administration announced that it is developing a framework for assessing AI tools and risks. This tool is aimed at municipal agencies.
Plan objectives
- Setting up an AI governance framework: the government wants to establish clear rules. The aim is to provide a framework for the development and use of AI in public domains.
- Creation of an AI advisory network: this network will be tasked with advising and informing policymakers on AI technologies and their implications.
- Training municipal managers: the plan is to equip municipal managers with the knowledge and skills they need to understand and manage projects involving AI.
- Publication of an annual report: to ensure transparency and accountability, an annual report concerning advances in AI will be published.
A concrete application: the launch of the first municipal chatbot
Following these announcements, the MyCity Business platform has been updated to integrate the pilot of the first chatbot. The chatbot is powered by artificial intelligence throughout New York City. Maria Torres-Springer spoke about this technological innovation. She emphasized that this is an important step towards making government more accessible to all.
The expected benefits of chatbots
- Facilitating procedures: this chatbot aims to simplify interactions between citizens and municipal services. It quickly provides personalized answers to common questions.
- Decision-making support: it should also enable users to obtain relevant information. This will make it easier for them to choose the public services and financial assistance available to them.
- Improved administrative efficiency: thanks to the automation of certain tasks, the chatbot could enable greater efficiency. The workload of municipal employees will also be lightened.
Caution is called for in the face of AI-related risks
The development and integration of artificial intelligence into local government is promising. Nevertheless, there are a number of caveats worth noting. In particular, Gary Gensler warns that the risk of an AI-driven financial crisis is almost inevitable.
Gary Gensler also acknowledged that the SEC is using AI technologies to monitor the financial sector. The organization wants to detect signs of fraud and manipulation. This approach shows that it is possible to use AI in a responsible and supervised way to improve the performance of public institutions.
Conclusion
The approach taken by New York City could inspire other metropolises around the world. A solid framework for the use of artificial intelligence shows the importance of planning and managing the adoption of these technologies with care and responsibility.
