AI trends in state and local government

ARTICLE | November 25, 2024

Authored by RSM US LLP

The adoption of artificial intelligence within state and local governments is rapidly gaining momentum as agencies seek innovative solutions to improve services, increase efficiency and better serve their communities. From automation to customer engagement, AI is becoming an essential tool for modern governance. Recent advances in generative AI have unlocked new possibilities for government workflows, driving both productivity and enhanced decision making.

One of the most prominent trends is the use of generative AI for public-facing services. RSM’s data and AI team has delivered several innovative AI solutions tailored to critical state and local government needs. Projects that have been developed and deployed for clients include:

• Generative AI building permit assistant: This solution streamlines the permit application process by assisting applicants in real time, answering queries and guiding them through necessary steps. Through the guided process, the solution integrates with key systems within the organization, helping validate property addresses and preliminarily approve plans.
• Generative AI building codes/bylaws assistant: This assistant helps interpret and navigate complex building codes and local regulations, simplifying compliance for developers, inspectors and architects.
• Generative AI website customer service assistant: Designed to enhance the resident and citizen experience, this AI assistant offers instant responses to common queries traditionally made to overwhelmed customer support staff, improving accessibility and reducing response times.
• Generative AI grant-writing assistant: Securing grants is a time-intensive process. This AI tool helps government staff by drafting initial versions of grant applications, significantly reducing time and administrative burden.
• Level I generative AI IT service desk assistant: Many government information technology service desks are overwhelmed with requests. This AI-driven assistant handles common IT inquiries, providing immediate responses to help-desk tickets and alleviating support teams.
• Recreation activities AI assistant: This assistant helps residents discover and register for local recreation programs, offering recommendations based on interests and eligibility.

Additionally, RSM’s data and AI team is actively supporting Native American tribal governments with cutting-edge compliance solutions. By leveraging generative AI within a protected environment, the team is helping tribal casino compliance organizations generate suspicious-activity reports with greater accuracy and efficiency. This initiative has saved hundreds of hours of effort while reducing compliance risk for casinos, highlighting the power of AI in a critical regulatory setting.

Data science and machine learning in action

Beyond generative AI, state and local governments are increasingly leveraging data science and machine learning (ML) to tackle complex societal issues. RSM has collaborated with government agencies to drive data-informed decision making, enhancing public health, safety and financial stewardship. Key projects include:

• Predicting adverse health events: In collaboration with a state’s health department, RSM’s data science team is using ML models to predict adverse health events within the population. By analyzing historical health data and social determinants, these models can identify at-risk individuals and help public health officials intervene early, improving health outcomes and reducing health care costs.
• Budget performance and criminal justice analysis: RSM has also worked with a state governor’s office to analyze data related to budget performance measures, helping the administration make informed decisions across various sectors. This includes using advanced analytics to evaluate criminal justice data, assessing trends in incarceration rates, recidivism and program effectiveness. These insights enable state leaders to allocate resources more effectively and report on key performance indicators to stakeholders.

With these use cases, state and local governments can create meaningful change by applying data science and machine learning to critical challenges. These solutions empower governments to make data-driven decisions that improve outcomes and optimize operational efficiency.

Whether government entities are exploring ways to enhance public services, optimize operations or unlock new insights from their data, cutting-edge AI solutions and advanced analytics can deliver tailored, high-value outcomes.