Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell at present introduced a “accountable AI plan” that gives tips for the municipality’s use of synthetic intelligence and its help of the AI tech sector as an financial driver.
“Now we have among the most outstanding AI belongings within the nation and world proper right here in Seattle,” mentioned Rob Lloyd, Seattle’s chief know-how officer, in a GeekWire interview.
Town ranks second behind San Francisco for AI expertise by some measures, and “if we’re very astute and really efficient, Seattle goes to be very, very affluent on this AI financial system,” he added.
The new plan contains instructions for AI coaching and skill-building alternatives for metropolis workers, in addition to a framework to facilitate and consider the usage of AI instruments in metropolis operations.
Seattle has been a frontrunner in creating steering for AI use, and claims to be the primary within the nation to challenge a generative AI coverage within the fall of 2023. Previous to at present’s announcement, Seattle already had insurance policies requiring “human-in-the-loop” oversight, the place workers should overview generative AI outputs earlier than official use and attribute any AI-assisted work to the particular know-how.
“Synthetic intelligence is greater than only a buzzword in Seattle — it’s a robust device we’re harnessing to construct a greater metropolis for all. Our new plan ensures we lead with our values, utilizing AI to enhance companies, empower workers, and velocity up processes like allowing,” Harrell mentioned in a assertion.
An investigative sequence printed final month by Cascade PBS, a public information group, discovered that a number of Washington cities have restricted guardrails round AI use, elevating public belief and privateness issues.
Seattle coverage additionally names AI purposes which might be prohibited for metropolis operations, equivalent to in hiring processes and facial recognition merchandise, as a consequence of issues concerning the tech’s efficiency and potential biases.
Seattle leaders mentioned they’re making an attempt to strike a steadiness that makes good use of the brand new know-how, however doesn’t compromise their elementary obligations in serving the general public.
“Now we have massive challenges associated to homelessness, housing manufacturing, public security, these varieties of issues,” Lloyd mentioned. “There’s lots of issues that we will do efficiently utilizing the [AI] instruments, however belief is our first measure.”
Testing AI applied sciences
Town has recognized 40 precedence initiatives during which AI might doubtlessly enhance authorities efficiency and public companies. Fifteen pilot partnerships have been launched up to now. They embrace:
- A collaboration with startup CivCheck, introduced in June, goals to expedite and streamline the constructing allowing course of.
- Town is working with C3.ai, Microsoft and the Division of Transportation to research near-miss incidents on roadways to cut back accidents and fatalities.
- Chatbot know-how from Gooey.ai and Rockefeller Heart is being examined to enhance customer support whereas offering help in 50 languages.
- A partnership with the College of Washington, Microsoft and Cloudforce faucets into UW’s experience to deal with town’s precedence challenges.
The mission with CivCheck is “going fairly nicely,” mentioned Leah Tivoli, Seattle’s director of Innovation and Efficiency. The know-how can scan 1000’s of allow purposes for omissions and different points that require resubmission, flagging widespread errors to allow them to be addressed and prevented. Town’s final aim is to cut back allowing occasions by half.
The intention isn’t to exchange metropolis workers with know-how — an strategy that contrasts with tech leaders equivalent to Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, who has cited AI efficiencies as enabling workforce reductions.
“We wish to be attentive to the place our workers are being overwhelmed, the place the group has lots of demand, and that’s floor that we will cowl, the place AI will help us, however that isn’t displacive,” Lloyd mentioned.
Different cities and native governments in Washington are likewise partnering with Seattle startups to deploy AI-supported companies. Bellevue has a pilot with Govstream.ai to speed up its allowing course of. Aurelian is partnering with seven native governments which might be utilizing its voice know-how to assist 911 name facilities reply to non-emergency calls.
Hackathon sequence launches
The up to date AI initiative was shared by Harrell and his crew forward of a city-led Neighborhood Innovation Hackathon being held this afternoon at Pier 70’s AI Home, a brand new startup hub partially funded by town. The hackathon is the primary in a sequence and goals to convey collectively entrepreneurs, engineers, college students, metropolis employees and others to brainstorm and develop options for urgent challenges.
Right now’s occasion is the Youth Connector Hackathon and centered on methods to higher join Seattle’s college students with town’s 15 youth packages, which provide psychological well being and different help companies.
A hackathon tackling metropolis allowing is scheduled for Oct. 9, whereas an occasion in early November will likely be a “reimagining” of town’s customer support, Tivoli mentioned.
“I’m actually curious to see what options are cringy, what options are thrilling, and actually get their views,” Tivoli mentioned.
Metropolis leaders described the brand new plan, hackathons, and collaborations with teams equivalent to AI Home, AI2 Incubator (which relies on the AI Home), traders, and tech firms as a part of a broader push to help Seattle’s AI sector.
Town needs to assist “activate” the AI ecosystem in Seattle and help new innovation, Lloyd mentioned. “As a result of it doesn’t simply occur organically,” he mentioned. “Folks must be good companions and intentional and purposeful in ensuring that happens.”
Editor’s observe: Story up to date so as to add remark from Mayor Bruce Harrell.
