\u201cThe current model employs very dedicated volunteers and the transition to a nonprofit will remove some of those constraints and allow dedicated staff to devote more time to delivering value for the coalition membership,\u201d San Diego Chief Information Officer Jonathan Behnke, who serves on the coalition\u2019s board, told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight.<\/p>\n
San Jose launched the GovAI Coalition<\/a> in 2023, not long after the introduction of ChatGPT 3, as a way for government agencies to pool information about AI-powered applications. That includes how products collect data and protect user information, according to the city\u2019s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n Since its start, the coalition has operated as a government-led initiative, with San Jose Chief Information Officer Khaled Tawfik serving as chair of its board. Under the proposal, the organization would be reconstituted as a nonprofit corporation governed by an independent board of directors made up of public sector leaders. Tawfik would retain his position through the transition.<\/p>\n The transition would be supported by a $150,000 grant from the Packard Foundation, according to a memo outlining the proposal. While other philanthropic organizations have expressed interest in providing further financial support for the coalition, they are reluctant to do so as long as it remains government-backed, the memo said.<\/p>\n Through a spokesperson, Tawfik declined to comment prior to Tuesday\u2019s council meeting.<\/p>\n The GovAI Coalition\u2019s primary focus has been churning out a variety of policy documents offering governments guidance on AI technology. The organization has already compiled a wide-ranging trove of free resources for government agencies, including fact sheets explaining how to use AI assistants in government work, a guidebook for training public workers in AI skills and model documents cities can cut and paste for their own use in procurement or setting data sharing agreements.<\/p>\n The coalition has expanded its reach dramatically since its first meeting in November 2023, which drew together about 50 agencies. Now, it boasts a globe-spanning membership that represents a variety of government types \u2014 including cities, states and public transit agencies \u2014 scattered across the U.S. and multiple continents.<\/p>\n As the organization\u2019s profile has increased, it has won\u00a0plaudits from AI researchers monitoring the rollout of the technology among governments.<\/p>\n \u201cThrough the coalition\u2019s network, government, civil society and industry leaders can share knowledge and discuss ideas, pushing the public sector towards responsible and trustworthy AI adoption and use in the delivery of public services,\u201d Maddy Dwyer, a policy analyst with the Center for Democracy and Technology, told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight.<\/p>\n San Jose has already experimented with AI tools to aid in an array of city functions<\/a>, such as optimizing public transit<\/a>, translating public meetings<\/a> and reviewing official documents. More recently, the city has launched a search for a generative AI platform capable of helping workers speed up routine tasks.<\/p>\n But even as city leaders have enthusiastically embraced AI tools \u2014 arguing they help the city accomplish more despite longstanding staffing shortfalls \u2014 they\u2019ve also run into pushback from workers<\/a>. Many have expressed alarm over potential displacement risks<\/a>, as well as the possibility of haphazard rollouts of new automated systems that could disrupt government operations.<\/p>\n
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