That’s what this article is about. Not prompt engineering tips or the latest shiny tool. It’s about the cultural shift required to adopt AI ethically, strategically and productively.
Artificial intelligence isn’t a futuristic concept or a Silicon Valley novelty. It’s already reshaping how government works. Whether or not you’ve personally used an AI-powered tool, these systems are shaping workflows, influencing decision-making and redefining how we engage with our communities.
But let’s be clear: This isn’t about robots replacing humans or a tech takeover. This is about readiness, mindset and leadership, especially from communicators in local government.
Communicators play a unique role in the public sector. We’re not just messengers, we’re bridge-builders, interpreters and trust architects. That’s why we’re also uniquely positioned to lead our organizations through the AI transition. Just like we did with the rise of social media and the onslaught of disinformation, it’s now our turn to help shape how AI is adopted, understood and governed. Here's how.
A Tool, Not a Threat: AI is best thought of like a calculator. It doesn’t replace your thinking, it enhances it. These tools can summarize lengthy reports, help draft emails or social posts, analyze text for tone, or even detect trends in community feedback. But they still need your input, context and values.
The critical mistake would be to treat AI as a magic wand. It’s not. And it certainly doesn’t absolve us of our professional responsibilities. Rather, AI augments our ability to serve and communicate effectively if we guide it wisely.
Rules Before Robots: One of the biggest risks right now isn’t the technology itself. It’s the absence of rules around it. In too many organizations, employees are already experimenting with AI tools without any clear guardrails. That’s a recipe for reputational, legal and ethical issues. And who ends up cleaning it up when things go wrong? Public information officers. We’re the ones who have to clarify the missteps, rebuild trust, and answer to both leadership and the public. That’s why PIOs must be at the table now, helping shape the rules before problems arise.
Good governance starts with clear policies. Who can use AI? For what? What data can it access? What must be reviewed by a human before being published? Agencies should treat AI adoption with the same diligence as any new communications platform or public engagement tool. Without a framework, you’re inviting improvisation, and that’s risky.
Culture Eats Code: Adopting AI is not just a software decision. It’s a culture shift. There will be fear, confusion and even resistance. That’s OK. It’s normal.
What matters is how we lead through it. Communicators can model responsible AI use, train others in effective prompting, and demonstrate transparency. We can explain how AI is being used, when it’s not, and why it still needs a human hand.
Change doesn’t start with a procurement order. It starts with trust.
Start Small, Scale Smart: You don’t need to overhaul your entire department to get started. In fact, the best approach is to pick a low-stakes use case: maybe summarizing a city council meeting, drafting a press release, or generating ideas for a newsletter. These “Tuesday tests,” as we call them, help teams get comfortable, spot limitations and build confidence.
Over time, these small experiments add up to big impact: more efficient workflows, faster response times, less busywork. That’s where the real transformation begins.
Keep the Human Touch: Here’s the reality: AI doesn’t know your boss’ preferences. It can’t read the mood of a tense public meeting. It doesn’t understand the unique history of your community or the nuances of local politics. That’s your job, and it’s not going away.
Think of AI like a junior assistant. It can help you get started, but it needs supervision. Every draft needs editing. Every message needs a human check for tone, accuracy and appropriateness.
AI can’t replace emotional intelligence. But it can give you more time to practice it.
Prompt Like a Pro: One of the most overlooked mindset shifts in AI adoption is how we communicate with these tools. Prompting isn’t just a technical task. It reflects how clearly we think, how well we understand our goals and how effectively we can guide a process. It’s not about mastering commands. It’s about being intentional, specific and thoughtful.
And let’s be real: I can guarantee that you didn’t hire any “prompt engineers” in your organization. That role doesn’t formally exist in most public agencies. But the skill set — being able to guide AI effectively — is something you can lead. It is a natural extension of the work communicators already do every day: asking the right questions, framing clear messages and distilling complexity into clarity.
This isn’t about becoming a tech expert. It is about modeling how to think critically, communicate clearly and use AI as a tool for public service.
The better your prompt, the better your result. Be clear. Provide context. Tell it what to avoid. Prompting is a leadership skill in an AI-enabled environment. Like any skill, it gets better with practice.
Focus on What Works: You don’t need every new app or AI plugin. You need the right ones for your goals. Choose tools that help you do your job better, whether that’s clearer communication, better outreach or more informed decision-making.
Avoid tools that create more noise than clarity. Focus on outcomes, not hype.
Lead the AI Conversation: Let’s be real — AI adoption in government doesn’t belong just to the IT department. It belongs to all of us. Communicators must have a seat at the table, helping shape policies, educate colleagues and lead by example.
This is your moment to lead. The future of public service is being written right now. And with the right mindset, policies and pilot projects, we can ensure that AI enhances, not replaces, our work.
So try it. Learn it. Question it. Then lead with it.
Because how we use AI is up to us.
David Oro is the co-founder of the Public Sector AI Lab, principal and founder of Oro Group, a technology communications agency, and a city council member in American Canyon, Calif. A veteran strategic communications adviser, David has led crisis communications at major corporations and during major events affecting the public including the 2017 Tubbs Fire.
