#ThisWeekInData October 6, 2023
- October 6, 2023
- Civic Data
ROUTE FIFTY: One city’s ‘data conversations’ help confront pressing challenges
The Nevada city of Henderson, facing water supply challenges, is using data to implement water conservation measures. Data is being used to measure progress on environmental mitigation through metrics like community sentiment, water use efficiency, and enforcement of conservation regulations. Henderson aims to achieve net-zero consumptive water use by 2035, emphasizing that data-driven decision-making must come from across city departments to drive outcomes and inform policies.
HKS POLICYCAST: AI can be democracy’s ally, but not if it works for Big Tech
In this podcast the Harvard Kennedy’s Bruce Schneier discusses how artificial intelligence has the potential to transform the democratic process in ways that could be “good, bad, and potentially mind-boggling.” His key point is that we need a public AI option and a regulatory agency that is absolutely required to make sure AI tools are working for everyone as a public good — a lesson already learned the hard way through social media and other tech tools.
KGW NEWS: City of Portland plans to use AI to answer all non-emergency calls starting in October
The city of Portland's Bureau of Emergency Communications is planning to use AI-powered software to handle all non-emergency calls starting in October, based on the results from a city-wide pilot. The AI system is designed to redirect around 25 percent of non-emergency calls to appropriate resources like the 311 program or online reporting, reducing the burden on human operators. The move aims to address long wait times for non-emergency calls and improve response times for 911 emergencies.
Stanford Social Innovation Review : The New Problem-Solving Skills That All Cities Need
Local governments play an outsized yet vital role in addressing global challenges like climate change and migration, but many lack the skills needed for effective solutions. This article calls for public officials to develop new problem-solving capabilities in areas like data analysis and collaboration, providing examples of cities successfully applying these skills. It also emphasizes the role of philanthropy in helping local governments build these new skills.
Data-Smart City Solutions: How to Responsibly Navigate Government's AI Frontier with Luis Videgaray
In this episode Stephen Goldsmith interviews Luis Videgaray, director of the MIT AI Policy for the World Project and senior lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management, about the dynamic landscape of AI adoption in cities, from basic applications to transformative processes, why generative tools demand leadership attention, and the best approach to AI procurement.
STATE TECH: How Data Literacy in Government Is Enhancing Data-Driven Decisions
While state and local governments are increasingly deploying data-driven decision-making, there's a need to improve data literacy among employees to ensure that the data is being correctly interpreted and applied. Some states have initiated data literacy programs, but a significant number of states and local governments lack formal data literacy initiatives, despite the fact that it is crucial for effective data governance, enabling better rules, processes, and organizational structures, and ultimately leading to more informed policymaking and better outcomes at all government levels.