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Ria Pavia is a public sector leader focused on innovation, performance, and accountability in local government. As Deputy Director of Innovation, Performance and Audit, she champions data-driven strategies, cross-department collaboration, and ethical technology adoption to improve services, foster transparency, and drive meaningful, community-centered impact across city operations.
Local Government and AI: Ideas to Action
When you’re working to build a culture of innovation, embracing AI isn’t optional— it’s essential. I’ve seen how it can streamline workflows, uncover insights, and improve service delivery across departments.
Conferences and demos can spark great ideas, but collaborating with other municipalities through a regional innovation coalition gives you something more valuable: grounded, real-world examples of AI in action. That exposure helps move your thinking from abstract possibilities to practical implementation.
The pace of change may be different in local government, but the stakes are high. If you’re not actively looking ahead, you’re already falling behind.
Clearing the Path: Start with Data and Trust
Operationally, the most significant barrier is data quality. Even the most advanced AI tools can’t deliver real value if the input is messy or inconsistent—it’s a classic case of “garbage in, garbage out.” That’s why our IT team is focused on building a strong, citywide data strategy to ensure we’re ready to use AI effectively.
Equally important is transparency. Residents need to know that AI isn’t replacing human judgment—it’s helping city leaders make more intelligent, informed decisions. Trust is the foundation. Without it, even the best tools won’t get off the ground.
Setting the Ground Rules: Transparency Builds Confidence
It starts with a clear, public-facing AI roadmap that outlines how AI will be used to advance city priorities like improving service delivery, saving time, and enabling preventative maintenance. When residents understand these goals, evaluating and implementing tools that align with community needs becomes much easier.
That roadmap should be vetted by executive leadership and elected officials to ensure alignment, oversight, and buy-in. Transparency from the beginning builds trust, reinforces ethical standards, and keeps the focus on supporting—not replacing—responsible, accountable governance.
Smart Tools, Real Impact: Choose What Truly Delivers
Some of the most promising AI use cases in city government are focused on improving communication and service delivery. I’ve seen tools that convert lengthy City Council meetings into digestible podcast summaries, making local governance more accessible. Chatbots are another strong example—they can handle common resident questions on our website, freeing up staff and improving responsiveness.
To decide which initiatives to pursue, we use an evaluation tool that measures ROI, not just in dollars but also in time saved and resident satisfaction. If an initiative adds value for both the public and our team, it’s worth exploring.
Breaking Silos: Governance That Brings Teams Together
Municipalities need a centralized AI governance structure to avoid siloed AI efforts and keep projects aligned with citywide goals. One effective model is creating an AI Committee with representatives from all major departments. This cross-functional team reviews use cases, shares lessons learned, and ensures alignment with broader performance and audit objectives.
In our city, we also introduced an internal “ticketing” system where any employee—regardless of role or department—can submit AI ideas or requests. This system promotes inclusivity, surfaces grassroots innovation, and helps us track adoption trends across departments while identifying areas that may be underutilizing AI.
Stay Grounded: Focus on What Truly Matters
Start with a clear roadmap and focus on maintaining momentum. Talk to peers, learn from what’s worked (and hasn’t), and don’t fear AI. The key is understanding it, not just reacting to it.
If you can, dedicate time and budget to explore promising ideas. And above all, don’t chase the hype. A solid governance framework or evaluation tool will keep you grounded in what matters: delivering long-term public value.
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