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The city of San Jose is setting a precedent in the public sector’s adoption of artificial intelligence, with Mayor Matt Mahan openly integrating AI tools like ChatGPT into day-to-day governance and policy work.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
From drafting speeches for ribbon-cutting ceremonies to helping shape the city\u2019s $5.6 billion annual budget, Mahan and his team have embraced generative AI <\/a>as a time-saving instrument that reduces administrative burden. \u201cElected officials do a tremendous amount of public speaking,\u201d said Mahan. \u201cYou can knock out these tasks at a similar or better level of quality in a lot less time.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The mayor\u2019s office is not alone in this digital transformation. San Jose has already spent over $35,000 on 89 ChatGPT licenses<\/a>, priced at $400 each, for city employees, with ambitions to train 1,000 staff (around 15 per cent of its workforce) in AI applications by next year. These tools are being used for everything from organising pothole complaints and rerouting buses to assisting in criminal investigations using surveillance data.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n AI has not only been a strategic tool for internal bureaucracy but also a practical asset in securing funding. Andrea Arjona Amador, who leads electric mobility initiatives for San Jose\u2019s Department of Transportation, used ChatGPT to help secure a $12 million grant for EV charging infrastructure. She created a customised AI agent to manage deadlines, organise correspondence, and even assist in writing the lengthy grant proposal. \u201cWe used to spend evenings and weekends pushing grants to completion,\u201d she said. \u201cThis changed the game.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Amador, fluent in Spanish and French before learning English, has also developed another AI agent <\/a>to fine-tune the tone and clarity of her professional writing, streamlining communication across departments.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Despite the enthusiasm, Mahan remains cautious. \u201cYou still need a human being in the loop,\u201d he said. \u201cYou can\u2019t just press a couple of buttons and trust the output. Independent verification, logic, and common sense still matter.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n San Jose’s efforts are part of a broader trend across the Bay Area. San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie recently announced a plan to provide Microsoft\u2019s AI assistant, Copilot, to nearly 30,000 city workers. The rollout includes clear ethical guidelines and privacy safeguards to prevent misuse.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n