Michael Pegues, the city's chief information officer, said the recently adopted 2024 city budget includes having the Information Technology Department "exploring the world of artificial intelligence" as included in the city's Technology Strategic Plan update of 2023.
While it stops short of a full artificial intelligence, or AI, plan, Pegues said the work will include "how do we put that in a plan and start executing it."
It will "be embarking on an exciting journey towards leveraging the potential of artificial intelligence within its government departments and services," Pegues said in an email. "Recognizing the transformative power of (artificial intelligence) in improving efficiency, decision-making and citizen services, the city administration is actively preparing to integrate AI technologies into various sectors."
Pegues said the department will look at policies that govern use of AI and how it can be used to help efficiency at City Hall.
"With a focus on streamlining administrative processes, automating routine tasks and optimizing resource allocation, Aurora aims to enhance its governance practices through AI-driven solutions," Pegues said.
Quoting gartner.com, Pegues said there has been a lot of research done on AI in the public sector.
Public sector organizations around the world consider AI as a game-changing technology with the potential to help them achieve their public purpose or mission, as well as drive economic growth in their region, Pegues said.
For the most part, the city's Technology Strategic Plan has focused on free Wi-Fi, inclusivity and bridging the digital divide. Once known as a Smart Cities initiative, the city now refers to it as Broadband as the Fourth Utility.
But with the way AI has exploded in usage and capability, public bodies are now looking how it can help, and also what the pitfalls might be.
So far, New York City is the only city to have released an AI plan, although the state of California also recently released one.
Aurora resident Jim Schweizer, lead artificial intelligence researcher for Aurora-based Global Data Sciences Inc., held a recent AI summit in Aurora at which he called for Aurora to develop an AI plan.
Schweizer recently used AI to compare and contrast the New York City AI plan with its state of California counterpart.
The AI report said, in summary, " California's report offers an initial analysis of GenAI capabilities and risks specifically, setting the stage for governance policies to follow.
"NYC's plan provides more concrete details on structures and requirements for agencies to govern AI use, with a focus on public involvement."
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