New Report on “AI Localism in Practice: Examining How Cities Govern AI”
By Sara Marcucci, Uma Kalkar, and Stefaan Verhulst
The rapid growth of cities and advances in data has led to the growing adoption of AI and other automated systems in cities across the world. In fact, research shows that cities and states are leading the charge in developing governance frameworks and implementing policies at a quicker, more direct, and more impactful level than their national counterparts because of the “immediacy and proximity” of policy needs and responses. Yet the expanded use of AI by municipalities raises new questions about what constitutes appropriate and ethical use of the technology and their governance models.
In 2020, The GovLab developed the AI Localism project, which investigates instances of AI governance at a state- and city-level across the world. Our previous scholarship in this field developed an AI localism canvas, which focused on seven key themes in its governance: Principles and rights; Public procurement; Engagement; Laws and policies; Accountability and oversight; Transparency; and Literacy. Further, our AI Localism Repository is a living platform of 100 curated examples of AI localism, categorized by geographic regions, types of governance innovation, and sectoral focus.
Enriching our previous explorations of AI localism, today The GovLab publishes “AI Localism: Examining How Cities Govern AI.” This report is the result of eight blogs released across September and October 2022 covering each AI localism canvas frame, along with an article by Stefaan Verhulst on principles to build a better AI localism framework.
“AI Localism in Practice: Examining How Cities Govern AI” serves as a primer for policymakers and practitioners to learn about current governance practices and inspire their own work in the field. In this report, we present the fundamentals of AI governance, the value proposition of such initiatives, and their application in cities worldwide to identify themes among city- and state-led governance actions. We close with ten lessons on AI localism for policymakers, data, AI experts, and the informed public to keep in mind as cities grow increasingly ‘smarter’, which include:
- Principles provide a North Star for governance;
- Public engagement provides a social license;
- AI literacy enables meaningful engagement;
- Tap into local expertise;
- Innovate in how transparency is provided;
- Establish new means for accountability and oversight;
- Signal boundaries through binding laws and policies;
- Use procurement to shape responsible AI markets;
- Establish data collaboratives to tackle asymmetries; and
- Make good governance strategic.
Considered together, we look to use our understanding of governance practices, local AI governance examples, and the ten overarching lessons to create an incipient framework for implementing and assessing AI localism initiatives in cities around the world.
Read the full report here. To learn more about AI localism, visit ailocalism.org. You can also explore over 100 case studies of AI localism across the world at the AI localism repository and submit your own examples here.
Professionals interested in pursuing thought leadership on the subject are invited to contact Stefaan Verhulst at sverhulst@thegovlab.org.
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About AI Localism
The growing use of AI within cities has fueled a phenomenon that we have coined as “AI Localism.” AI Localism refers to the initiatives and experiments taken by local decision-makers to establish innovative approaches to AI governance. It seeks to fill in gaps left by incomplete governance at the national level as well as by the private sector. The AI Localism Repository compiles international examples of policy, regulation, legislation, and projects to advance city and state level AI governance.
About The GovLab
The Governance Lab’s mission is to improve people’s lives by changing the way we govern. Our goal at The GovLab is to strengthen the ability of institutions — including but not limited to governments — and people to work more openly, collaboratively, effectively, and legitimately to make better decisions and solve public problems. We believe that increased availability and use of data, new ways to leverage the capacity, intelligence, and expertise of people in the problem-solving process, combined with new advances in technology and science, can transform governance. We approach each challenge and opportunity in an interdisciplinary, collaborative way, irrespective of the problem, sector, geography, and level of government. For more information, visit thegovlab.org
