AI in the (real) council world
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Last week, I virtually facilitated and supported five separate AI training sessions, workshops and talks with local councils across the country.
In attendance were clerks, council officers and a number of councillors, all of whom shared broadly similar experiences about their use of AI:
Roughly 90% of delegates at our sessions had used AI to support their role over the last 12 months
More than two-thirds of councils said they lacked confidence when it came to using AI, and weren't sure whether they were using the right tools in the right ways - or sometimes even how to get started
Almost everyone present voiced at least some level of concern about AI governance arrangements, including concerns about bias, data protection and policy issues
But the most stark statistic was this:
Only about 1 in 10 councils represented said they had properly given thought to their council's AI strategy.
In other words, they hadn't yet considered these strategically vital questions to achieve successful AI adoption:
What does your council want to achieve with AI and what does "good' look like?
What are the routine administrative tasks we want AI to be able to assist us with?
How can AI help us boost community engagement efforts?
How can AI help support officers and councillors with their respective roles?
How can we use AI to enhance the customer service experience for residents?
The answer to these key questions gives councils the roadmap they need to make AI adoption more seamless and ultimately more effective.
Your answers will also determine what AI tools you should actually invest time and resource in, and what your council's AI training and adoption plan looks like.
During our Council AI Masterclasses, we help you answer these questions and guide you through how you can use AI in your council to save you time and reduce headaches in an effective and compliant way.
