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New America urges colleges to deploy AI for civic and government challenges
Universities are directing AI tools toward civic problems outside campus, partnering with courts, agencies, and nonprofits. Tulane and Northeastern are among schools building public-use systems for judicial oversight and government services.
Colleges Turn AI Toward Civic Problems Beyond Campus
Colleges and universities are increasingly deploying AI to help government agencies and civic organizations solve public problems, according to research from the think tank New America. The focus marks a shift from institutions using AI primarily for internal operations.
Two recent New America reports-The AI Lab Next Door and Making AI Work for the Public-document projects where universities partner with external groups to address specific challenges.
Real Projects in Motion
Tulane University partnered with Court Watch NOLA to build an AI-powered database of court proceedings. The system identifies trends, irregularities, and potential inequities in judicial records.
Northeastern University's AI for Impact program has created more than two dozen tools for civic use. These address problems in procurement, grant applications, and public communication.
For education leaders, these examples show a practical path forward: institutions can direct AI resources toward problems that affect the communities they serve. The work requires no new technology-just different priorities about where to apply existing capabilities.
Learn more about AI for Education and AI for Government applications.