Earlier this year, the Tallahassee City Commission requested an overview detailing how city staff use artificial intelligence (AI). On September 3, 2025, at a city committee meeting, elected officials received an update on the information.
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AI is the use of computer technology that improves performance by learning from data, identifying patterns, and analyzing information. With AI becoming increasingly popular across local governments, the city has established a framework for using this technology and developed a number of policies that ensure it meets urban standards.
The city is currently using AI in several ways of choosing. Their main uses are to use generative chat-based support and voice recognition services to help customers 24/7 or increase customer engagement and satisfaction during peak call times that are not readily available to workers. In February, the city established an AI solution to automatically summarize and identify customer billing activities, invoices, invoices, and late invoices for the past 12 months, moving the multi-hourly process to an instant.
Other major uses of AI focus on public safety. Since 2023, AI-Assist license plate readers have converted plate photos into readable text, leading to the recovery of over 200 stolen vehicles. The Metropolitan Real-Time Crime Center has developed AI-powered firearm detection software that collects information and allows for faster response times when a weapon is detected. Last year, city police and fire departments used AI-equipped drones to enable efficient and accurate responses.
AI has proven applicable, but numerous rules and regulations must be implemented to ensure safety. AI is sometimes unpredictable due to its ability to absorb information, learn and grow continuously. The city has implemented a policy that restricts the information that AI is granted, including access to all sensitive data. Employees should oversee the use of AI to ensure accuracy and instruct them to report incidents involving AI to protect city data. Additionally, if you discard electronic media containing sensitive information, all data must be unreadable. If information is given to artificial intelligence, it must be completely erased before disposal.
