Aurora is looking at a policy and strategy for the use of generative artificial intelligence at City Hall.
The City Council Finance Committee on Thursday recommended no more than $136,570 be paid to International Data Corporation Research, Inc. of Needham, Massachusetts, or IDC, as a consultant for a policy, strategy and roadmap for use of what is called GenAI.
“Let’s be clear here, AI is coming,” said Alex Alexandrou, Aurora’s chief management officer. “AI is working its way through different industries, and government is no different. We’re trying to get ahead of it.”
Kevin Brimbery, of IDC, said Aurora is actually “way ahead of other cities I’m taking to.” He said his company will look at how a GenAI policy will align with the city’s existing technology, develop a GenAI strategy and outline a short-term roadmap of how the city can use it.
“GenAI’s going to help the city by automating processes within all departments,” Brimbery said. “It’s also going to create new content from previously related content, actually streamlining operations and reducing costs.”
Michael Pegues, the city’s chief Information Technology officer, said GenAI can help with the time-consuming tasks in an office like the city clerk’s, water billing and other improvements for the city’s customers.
“AI doesn’t replace people,” he said. “It frees up people to do more complex jobs.”
Ald. Carl Franco, 5th Ward, Finance Committee chair, asked if GenAI could be replacing people, cutting jobs.
“This request is not, in any way, shape or form, to create an AI platform that going to replace employees,” Alexandrou said.
He said the city would be looking at nationwide trends to “help existing workforce,” and said the work with IDC would be a start at a GenAI policy.
“How can we use this as a tool,” he said.
slord@tribpub.com