Letter to Santa Cruz County Supervisors
When I hear of places like Santa Cruz County being apprehensive about the incorporation of A.I., a wry smile inevitably spreads across my face. As someone deeply enmeshed in the world of artificial intelligence, the anxieties that the specter of A.I. raises can sometimes seem valid, with a sprinkling of irony. It is as if we have been standing knee-deep in a river, worried about getting wet, and oblivious to the fact that we are already thoroughly drenched.
Picture the ordinary individual, concerned about data privacy, their eyes scouring articles on the internet about A.I., oblivious to the irony that their searches are being conducted through Google or their social interaction on Facebook—both ecosystems teeming with the very A.I. they express anxiety over. This cognitive dissonance, the tension between our professed fears and our actual behaviors, can seem puzzling to those of us engaged in this field.
2nd Gear Gov vs. A.I. Turbo
The call for regulation can also be a source of amusement, tinged perhaps with a bit of melancholy. It's like watching someone trying to catch a cheetah while riding on the back of a tortoise. The pace of technological innovation has consistently outstripped our ability to govern it, and A.I. is no exception. The speed at which governments operate can often feel frustratingly out of sync with the nimble, ever-accelerating world of A.I. development.
This isn't to dismiss concerns out of hand or belittle the sincerity of those calling for a more regulated A.I. landscape. It is, instead, a call to recognize the inherent complexities and ironies of the situation we find ourselves in. These tensions between privacy and convenience, between innovation and regulation, are the knots we must untangle as we navigate our way towards the future. And as we do so, a measure of humor and self-awareness might not be amiss.
If you think of OpenAI as the first gen of A.I. it took years to create the LLM (large language model), and hundreds of millions of dollars. Released to the world in late 2022, it is already “old gen”. The known number of “new gen” A.I.s being brought online weekly is likely a dozen a week. Hard emphasis on “known”. The current generation of personal A.I.s can be created with as little as 12,000 documents, and spun up on AWS for as little as $30, and deployed in days. Personal A.I.s created in a coffee shop will soon become a reality -- within months, not years or decades.
Reasons for Optimism
A.I. has the potential to carry us into an epoch of remarkable transformation — one where human effort is minimized, decisions are optimized, and public services reach heights of quality previously unimagined. The introduction of A.I. to local government is no cause for unmitigated concern, but instead warrants tempered optimism.
One reason for this optimism lies in A.I.'s capacity to drastically increase efficiency and productivity. When imbued with machine intelligence, monotonous tasks become automated, liberating human beings to exercise their capacities for critical thought and empathy — traits unique to us, at least in this stage of our technological evolution.
A.I.’s unparalleled capacity for data analysis is another cause for sanguinity. In a flash, it can sift through an avalanche of data, distilling it into insights that can guide policies and decision-making in local governments. It can predict patterns, optimize resource allocation, and create a platform for truly informed decision-making.
This powerful technology can elevate the quality of public services, offering them an innovation injection. A.I. chatbots, for instance, can be available around the clock to answer citizens' queries. The predictive capabilities of A.I. can help to forestall the deterioration of public infrastructure (predictive preventative maintenance) and thus avoid unnecessary fiscal drains.
While there are undeniable costs associated with the initial adoption of A.I., the long-term financial picture is often one of considerable savings. The automation of routine tasks and the elimination of human error can lead to significant efficiencies. This prospect of doing more with less is a tantalizing one for local governments.
Contrary to popular fear, A.I.'s impact on employment could be seen as a reconfiguration rather than a devastation. Yes, some jobs may become obsolete. But we must also acknowledge A.I.'s potential for job creation, particularly in sectors demanding A.I. specialists and related roles. It is not a zero-sum game.
In the sphere of community engagement, A.I. offers exciting opportunities. By analyzing social media data and other digital breadcrumbs, it can give governments a deep understanding of the needs and concerns of their citizens — helping to build responsive, citizen-centered governance. It can also alert governments when “bad actors” are mucking things up.
Our legal and regulatory landscapes, while currently grappling with the novelty of A.I., are in a state of dynamic evolution. Academia, governments, and international bodies are actively engaging with the legal, ethical, and societal challenges posed by AI, striving to create an infrastructure that can host A.I. responsibly.
Public-private partnerships are becoming more commonplace, as tech companies recognize their crucial role in helping governments deploy A.I. Such collaborations can provide governments with the technical expertise and resources they may otherwise lack.
Kudos to Local Government
As we find ourselves poised on the cusp of this era powered by A.I., it becomes vitally important that we recognize the promise held within this technology to elevate and enhance our communities. Let's take a moment to extend our heartfelt admiration to the Supervisors of Santa Cruz County and all those local authorities who see the immense potential in deploying A.I. to streamline governmental operations.
It's important, however, that we not lose sight of the need to traverse this fresh landscape with a judicious mix of caution and optimism. While we should indeed seize upon the new possibilities offered, we must simultaneously be steadfast in our commitment to counterbalancing any associated risks with due diligence.
Artificial Intelligence, my friends, is not just a new gadget in the toolbox of governance. It is, indeed, a beacon that could guide us toward the establishment of a government that's more efficient, more inclusive, and more responsive to the needs of the people it serves. So, let's navigate this era not only with wide-eyed anticipation, but with a clear sense of purpose and determination to harness this technology for the greater good.
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