The Louisville Metro Government has selected freshly funded Govstream.ai for a permitting pilot that relies on artificial intelligence.
According to the city, the pilot will test how quickly AI can reduce permit review timelines and provide other benefits that streamline housing approvals.
The effort focuses on new residential construction, including multifamily dwellings — city data from 2024 shows a particular need for more houses for people with lower incomes.
The need for more housing, especially affordable units, is helping to drive innovation in government technology around the country, leading to business opportunities for suppliers.
The pilot in Kentucky seeks to gain “informed, real-word feedback” from local builders and developers as officials from Louisville Metro’s offices of Planning, and Codes and Regulations figure out if AI can help ease the area’s housing crunch.
Local officials describe the current permitting process as unpredictable and prone to delay, with numerous bottlenecks, according to a statement from the office of Mayor Craig Greenberg.
Helping to get rid of those knots is the job of the technology from Govstream.ai.
"As we continue to move Louisville forward in a new direction, we're using the power of technology to update antiquated systems and processes to better serve people who rely on us to get the job done," Greenberg said in the statement. "By responsibly leveraging AI, we can use the data we have to alleviate pain points that cause people delays — costing them time and money.”
The city says this pilot came through Louisville’s first RFP process for an AI-focused project.
Though Louisville has a relatively modest population of about 650,000, the city, located on the Ohio River, seems to be punching above its weight when it comes to its public-sector AI goals.
Late last year, for instance, the city appointed Pamela McKnight as its first-ever chief artificial intelligence officer. She brings some three decades of private-sector experience in the tech industry to that job.
Months before her hiring, the city devoted $2 million in the IT budget for AI work and development, along with her salary.
Meanwhile, Govstream.ai is coming off a $3.6 million seed funding round — bringing its total fundraising to nearly $5 million — with the company already working with such early clients as Bellevue, Wash.
“This partnership with Govstream.ai demonstrates how cities can move from AI theory to practical, measurable impact," said Chris Seidt, director of information technology for Louisville Metro Government, in the statement. "By focusing on real-world challenges like permitting, we'll learn how to deploy AI that amplifies human expertise and keeps our staff focused on the judgment-driven work only they can do."
