Artificial Intelligence

The Wicomico County Sheriff's Office is using a new AI program to transcribe audio from body-worn cameras so that deputies don’t have to type it from scratch. Critics worry nuances could get lost in translation.

After teen suicides drew the attention of lawsuits and lawmakers, the artificial intelligence chatbot platform Character.AI announced plans to restrict the use of its platform to two hours a day for minors.

Proponents of synthetic data see it as the future, saying it will help government have more access to valuable data while at the same time protecting individual privacy.

A new degree program in applied AI at the largest art and design school in the U.S. has prompted varied reactions from students and staff, with some designers embracing it and other departments seeing it as automation.

District leaders at the EdTech Week conference in New York City last week showcased how they approach AI innovation, balancing opportunity with practicality.

Given new pressures from emerging tech, funding cuts and public skepticism, EDUCAUSE’s list of priorities for higher education in 2026 calls for strong data foundations, AI literacy and collaboration.

The city’s transit provider is working with AI-powered tools on an initiative known as “traffic service priority,” using onboard technology to assist in improving speeds and decreasing travel times.

Rather than the more common text-based chatbot, Amarillo, Texas, employs Emma, an AI-powered digital assistant designed to resemble its community. Officials said it has saved the city more than $1 million since launch.

Officials have extended the availability of Google’s Gemini platform to nearly 43,000 state employees. So far, around 12,500 are actively using its generative AI features in government work.

Some higher education IT leaders say getting financial and institutional partners on board with new technology should start with discussions about problems, not tools, and what works to address them.

The Ohio city’s new police headquarters is due to open in the second half of 2026. The firm overseeing somewhat concurrent station renovations is using an AI-powered procurement tool to streamline ordering of supplies.

A public community college in Illinois will use grants from the National Science Foundation to coordinate AI workshops for faculty across disciplines and create a cybersecurity toolkit for college employees.

Panelists at the EdTech Week conference in New York City called for intentional, evidence-based ed-tech decisions grounded in real metrics of impact, accessibility, interoperability and instructional alignment.

Speaking at the recent NASCIO conference, Mississippi CIO Craig Orgeron struck optimistic notes about the technology. He views it as a tool that can put new capabilities in the hands of more government workers.

Some surveys show an increasing number of students using AI to complete homework, prompting teachers to reevaluate when and how they assign it, and what they intend students to get out of it.

Educate Texas, an initiative of the Communities Foundation of Texas, convenes officials from school districts, nonprofits, Dallas College and the Texas Education Agency to discuss integrating AI into their operations.

With ChatGPT now allowing for payments within its interface, the potential for governments is huge. But the possibility comes with major questions around trust, data governance and system architecture.

The company gathers procurement data and signals from agencies and turns them into action for sellers of public-sector technology. The investment is just the latest bet on AI for local and state government.