How U.S. Cities Are Using AI to Solve Common Problems

Interviews with local leaders show how this technology has helped them automate tasks, make better decisions with data, and more effectively engage with the community.

AI has the potential to revolutionize local government operations, but American cities face significant challenges in adopting these technologies. In interviews with more than 150 local leaders across dozens of U.S. cities, respondents consistently reported three problems: sclerotic and siloed bureaucracies, burdensome regulations, and risk aversion. AI, however, could be a turning point. Cities have successfully deployed AI to: automate tasks, make better decisions with data, and better engage with the community. The key factors in the cities that have done this successfully are: clear vision and strategy, systematic de-bottlenecking, public-private partnerships, and adherence to governance principles.

• 
  MB
  

  
  Mathis Bitton is a PhD candidate in Government at Harvard. His work focuses on the intersection between philosophy of technology and technology policy.  He is a contributing researcher to NYU’s work with emerging technology and cities.
  

• 
  EH
  

  
  Elizabeth Haas, PhD, Co-leads NYU’s research and consulting partnership with the U. S. Conference of Mayors’ Tourism, Arts, Parks, Entertainment, and Sports Standing Committee. Over the past decade, her work has focused on the social and technological shifts in sports and cities. Her students have worked on projects with over a hundred cities.
  

• 
  PH
  

  
  Peter Hirshberg, is Chairman and Co-founder of San Francisco’s Gray Area, a leading art and technology research center. He led Enterprise Markets at Apple under Steve Jobs and authored Maker City: A Practical Guide for Reinventing American Cities which chronicles his work with The Obama White House. He is also a Senior Fellow at the USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy.
  

New!