The most visible faces of artificial intelligence (AI) are things like ChatGPT, self-driving cars and humanoid robots. But AI is also quietly making inroads in our neighbourhoods.
Across the world, local governments already use AI to answer questions, guide planning enquiries, manage infrastructure, monitor the environment, and improve public services.
AI can help local governments meet rising community expectations while facing budget pressure, ageing infrastructure and workforce constraints.
But becoming smarter is only half the challenge. The real test is whether AI is used responsibly, transparently and in ways communities can understand and trust.
In a new report, we and our colleagues examine how AI is reshaping local government – and how we can make sure it really serves the public interest.
