Lexington Restricts How City Staff Can Use AI
Lexington's government has established rules for employee use of artificial intelligence, requiring human review of all AI-generated content before it reaches the public. The city's chief information officer, Liz Rodgers, outlined the policy to the Urban County Council's general government and planning committee this week.
Staff can use AI to draft documents, summarize materials, and research topics. But they cannot input sensitive information-constituent addresses, health records, or other personal data-into AI systems.
What's Prohibited
Employees cannot hand off decision-making to AI tools. Supervisors retain the right to ban AI use in their departments regardless of official policy. The city's communications office, for example, prohibits staff from posting AI-generated images on social media, even though the policy technically allows it.
"Acceptable use does not imply appropriate use," Rodgers said.
Why These Restrictions Exist
Rodgers cited several concerns beyond typical cybersecurity and data privacy issues. The city worries about reputational damage, bias embedded in AI models, and erosion of public trust.
"We wanted to make sure that we got out early policy directives to make sure that people were not only using the right technologies but also were using them in the right manner," Rodgers said.
Which Tools Are Allowed
Lexington uses Microsoft products for email, calendars, and video meetings. The package includes Microsoft Copilot, which the city restricts employees to use instead of ChatGPT or Google Gemini. Microsoft's version includes stronger data privacy and security protections than the commercial versions of competing tools.
Employees can request exceptions to use other AI tools or for unapproved tasks. Rodgers' office reviews each request individually.
Enforcement and Training
The city monitors employee activity on city devices and accounts. Violations-intentional or not-can result in loss of AI access. Lexington has conducted training sessions on Microsoft AI Courses and plans to publish additional resources for staff learning to use Copilot effectively.
For government employees navigating new AI for Government policies, understanding your agency's rules before using these tools prevents missteps.
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