AI in Government: From Promise to Practice
Counties are moving AI from concept to field use. Teams are testing chat-based resident support, automating permit intake, expanding data-driven reviews for fraud detection, and applying machine learning to watch for complex threat patterns.
The upside is clear: faster service, sharper analysis, and better use of limited staff time. The responsibility is just as clear: clear guardrails, ethical standards, and an honest view of where automation should stop.
Why this matters for counties
Public trust is earned in the details-how data is used, how decisions are made, and how people are treated. County CIOs and security leaders are setting the tone with strong governance, transparent practices, and steady operations.
- Service delivery: virtual assistants that route requests, summarize cases, and reduce backlog.
- Permitting: triage applications, flag missing items, and standardize intake.
- Program integrity: data checks that spot patterns linked to fraud or error.
- Cybersecurity: anomaly detection and threat prioritization for faster response.
Responsible adoption: what to prioritize
- Data governance: classify data, control access, log usage, and set retention rules.
- Procurement: require clear model documentation, testing plans, security attestations, and exit clauses.
- Security: protect inputs/outputs, monitor model behavior, and isolate sensitive workloads.
- Workforce: train staff, define new roles, and set expectations for human oversight.
- Transparency and trust: explain how AI is used, provide appeal paths, and publish performance metrics.
Practical guardrails that work
- Use human-in-the-loop for decisions that affect benefits, permits, enforcement, or employment.
- Run impact assessments before launch; document intended uses, risks, and mitigations.
- Separate test and production data; avoid feeding sensitive information into general-purpose tools.
- Track outcomes for bias, false positives, and error drift; adjust or roll back when thresholds are exceeded.
- Align to trusted guidance like the NIST AI Risk Management Framework and the AI Bill of Rights.
MACo Winter Conference Session: AI in Government - From Promise to Practice
Artificial intelligence is changing how counties deliver services, protect data, and support internal decision-making. This session focuses on real deployments-where AI provides value, where limits are essential, and how to keep privacy and security front and center.
- Speakers:
- Stephen Pereira, Director, Technology Services; Chief Information Officer, Calvert County
- Ty Howard, Chief Information Officer and Interagency IT Director, Frederick County
- Ted Pibil, Sr Government Advisor, ePlus Technology, Inc.
- James Saunders, Acting Chief Information Security Officer, State of Maryland (invited)
- Date/Time: Thursday, December 11, 2025; 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
- Conference: Local Leadership, Lasting Impact: Shaping What's Next
- Location: Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Hotel, Cambridge, MD
- Dates: December 10-12, 2025
What you'll walk away with
- A short list of AI use cases that deliver value without compromising privacy or security.
- A repeatable checklist for governance, procurement, and vendor oversight.
- Playbooks for human review, audit logs, and incident response specific to AI systems.
- Practical steps to upskill staff and set clear operating boundaries.
Getting your team ready
Set a common baseline. Train staff on prompt quality, data handling, and AI ethics. Start with low-risk pilots, measure results, and scale what works.
If you need structured upskilling by role, explore curated options at Complete AI Training. Pick a course path, define your review process, and require practice on real workflows.
AI can help counties serve residents faster and make smarter use of resources. The goal is simple: deliver clear public value while protecting privacy, explaining decisions, and keeping people in control where it counts.
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