Austin-based SuperCity AI sells what it calls an “AI-driven” app that can help cities with communications and community engagement. Like most suppliers of government technology, the company is chasing the artificial intelligence gold rush, and, in this case, taking the long view on workforce needs — an increasing focus of all types of organizations eager to help build the AI future.
The paid training program — $18 to $22 per hour, to be exact — involves partnerships with job services firm Workforce Solutions Borderplex, the city and county of El Paso and Pioneers 21, a startup incubator.
People taking part in the program receive guidance from professionals who have worked with artificial intelligence, including for such companies as Coca-Cola and Nike. The program, which runs for 16 weeks, offers training with various AI tools from OpenAI, Anthropic and others.
SuperCity AI’s apprenticeship program is based in El Paso, the hometown of SuperCity AI CEO and co-founder Miguel Gamiño Jr.
He’s the former chief technology officer for New York City who held similar leadership roles in San Francisco and El Paso. His private-sector experience includes an executive vice president position at Mastercard.
He told Government Technology that he still has a lot of “local relationships” in El Paso, a group that includes business people and investors. He also says his hometown is big but not overwhelming, and diverse — factors that could work in favor of the apprenticeship program.
SuperCity plans to hire 10 people for the initial cohort, and selection was ongoing as of the Thanksgiving break, Niko Dubovsky, company co-founder and partnership lead, told Government Technology.
Funding comes from Workforce Solutions, with an estimated cost of perhaps $140,000 for the first cohort, depending on how many people are selected. Plans call for the company to establish similar programs in other cities as well.
Even as the AI gov tech field becomes ever more crowded, SuperCity AI has a vision about how to stand out from the pack.
“We are built for local government, full stop,” Gamiño said.
After all, he explains, that's where the things most important to daily life usually happen — garbage collection, safe and maintained roads, public safety.
AI apprentices who take part in the program could end up working for SuperCity or its clients, or maybe not.
Gamiño said the program has larger goals, which include building awareness of “what it means to act locally, and the opportunity to help build the [AI workforce]. It’s important to develop the skill set, and it helps us build a talent pipeline.”
