{"id":365501,"date":"2026-08-07T18:32:09","date_gmt":"2026-08-07T18:32:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/365501\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T18:32:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T18:32:09","slug":"st-pete-council-weighs-ai-expansion-after-policy-rollout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/365501\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Pete council weighs AI expansion after policy rollout"},"content":{"rendered":"

St. Petersburg officials are opening a public conversation about artificial intelligence<\/a> just days after the city quietly adopted its first policy governing how employees can use the technology.<\/p>\n

The City Council unanimously voted Thursday to refer a proposed citywide AI strategy to its Public Services and Infrastructure Committee, while the Welch administration launches a public comment period and open house on the city\u2019s future use of AI.<\/p>\n

Council Member Mike Harting requested the referral to the Public Services and Infrastructure Committee, asking members to examine how the city should use artificial intelligence, what guardrails should accompany it and what it could cost.<\/p>\n

The council\u2019s discussion came three days after the city adopted its first administrative policy governing generative AI, according to an internal document obtained by the Catalyst. Effective Aug. 3, Administrative Policy 071200 authorizes employees to use approved tools, including Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT and Gemini, while establishing rules for their use.<\/p>\n

The policy prohibits employees from entering confidential information, personally identifiable information, criminal justice records and other protected data into AI systems without written approval.<\/p>\n

It also requires employees to verify AI-generated content for accuracy and intellectual property concerns, preserve qualifying AI-generated records and use only city-approved AI platforms.<\/p>\n

Employee guidance accompanying the policy says AI may be used for drafting routine communications, summarizing public information, brainstorming ideas and conducting research, but cannot replace employee judgment or be used to make legal, disciplinary, procurement or public safety decisions.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Public-facing content must also be reviewed by a city employee before release.<\/p>\n

Not everyone on the council believes the City\u2019s safeguards go far enough.<\/p>\n

\u201cI really appreciate the new business item,\u201d Council Member Richie Floyd said. \u201cI think we\u2019ll probably have disagreements on this as it goes forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

Floyd questioned whether the city is already paying for enterprise AI licenses, warning that costs can escalate quickly. He also criticized the newly adopted policy, saying he had reviewed it and believed it was \u201cfar too permissive.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we need to temper it back already,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Floyd questioned whether relying on employees to review AI-generated work was sufficient.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe policy says everyone must review it, but I don\u2019t think those words \u2018everyone must review it\u2019 are strong enough,\u201d Floyd said. \u201cTechnical data through generative AI will have hallucinations and whatnot that will be difficult to catch.\u201d<\/p>\n

He argued that reviewing AI-generated technical information can sometimes defeat the technology\u2019s intended efficiencies.<\/p>\n

\u201cOften times it takes more time to catch those mistakes than it does to just create a correct representation of data in the first place,\u201d Floyd said.<\/p>\n

Council Member Copley Gerdes said he has been working with staff and an outside consultant on how AI could improve the city\u2019s permitting process.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think one of the places that it could be very helpful is with public records,\u201d Gerdes said, pointing to the city\u2019s ongoing challenges responding to records requests.<\/p>\n

Gerdes said he expects to bring a presentation to the committee this fall.<\/p>\n

The council\u2019s discussion comes as the Welch administration launches a 30-day public comment period on artificial intelligence and prepares to host an Aug. 25 open house at the President Barack Obama Main Library<\/a>. According to the city, residents\u2019 feedback will help shape how AI is used in municipal government.<\/p>\n

Mayor Ken Welch has publicly encouraged exploring the technology. Following a June meeting with technology and community leaders<\/a>, Welch said he looked forward to continued conversations about using artificial intelligence \u201cto strengthen our City teams and services.\u201d<\/p>\n

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