GovTech: In Case You Missed It

How Local Governments Should Approach AI — ICYMI

Juan Sequeda of data.world discusses key technologies and provides his perspective on how AI can be used to empower state and local governments.

September 01, 2023 • 
Dustin Haisler, Joe Morris
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How Local Government Should Approach AI
As principal scientist and head of the AI lab at data.world, Juan Sequeda's role is to push boundaries and ask "What's next?" With a doctorate in computer science and interests that include knowledge graphs, AI, data modeling, data integration and data catalogs, you might think he would be one to downplay all the hype currently surrounding generative AI.

Not so.

Juan describes generative AI as an inflection point in the same way that the Internet and the iPhone were turning points in the way we live our lives. And just as those have evolved in the past decades, AI will also evolve and get better. He says it's definitely something to get excited about and experiment with as it already provides tangible value in terms of productivity and efficiency.

On this episode of ICYMI, Juan joins Dustin and Joe to discuss the public sector's challenge of knowing what data they have (and what data they need) in order to achieve their goals, the need to create a diverse group within an agency to develop guardrails and share learnings, and how structured data is foundational to unlock the full potential of AI.




“In Case You Missed It” is Government Technology’s weekly news roundup and interview live show featuring e.Republic* Chief Innovation Officer Dustin Haisler and Deputy Chief Innovation Officer Joe Morris as they bring their analysis and insight to the week’s most important stories in state and local government.

Follow along live Fridays at 12 p.m. PST on LinkedIn and YouTube.

*Note: e.Republic is Government Technology's parent company.
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Dustin Haisler
Dustin Haisler is the president of Government Technology's parent company e.Republic. Previously the finance director and later CIO for Manor, Texas, a small city outside Austin, Haisler quickly built a track record and reputation as an early innovator in civic tech. As President, Haisler drives exponential growth, implements new ideas and promotes a corporate culture that rewards creativity. Read his full bio.
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Joe Morris
Joseph Morris is the chief innovation officer of <i>Government Technology</i>’s parent company e.Republic and a national keynote speaker on issues, trends and drivers impacting state and local government and education. He has authored publications and reports on funding streams, technology investment areas and public-sector priorities, and has led roundtables, projects and initiatives focused on issues within the public sector. Joe has conducted state and local government research with e.Republic since 2007 and knows the ins and outs of government on all levels. He received his Bachelor of Arts in government and international relations from the California State University, Sacramento.
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