AI-Driven Deputy City Manager: A Quiet Revolution in Local Governance

In 2024, artificial intelligence (AI) has firmly established its presence across various sectors, including education, therapy, and now local government. This trend is exemplified by Maricopa’s Deputy City Manager Micah Gaudet, who has been a proponent of integrating AI technologies into municipal operations.

Gaudet’s advocacy for AI integration extends beyond his role, as he recently shared insights in an article for Government Finance Review, a Chicago-based magazine. He does not envision creating a dystopian AI entity like Skynet; rather, he promotes the use of existing AI tools such as ChatGPT and Midjourney to streamline mundane tasks and complex data processing. This approach could significantly reduce the time required for human labor.

A notable instance cited by Gaudet involves the creation of an incident and traffic management plan for Maricopa’s 20th anniversary festival. While the city’s police and emergency management teams spent several months developing the plan, ChatGPT produced a comparable response in mere minutes. “The response that ChatGPT gave was almost the exact same one that our police and fire management team put together,” Gaudet explained in his interview.

Despite the efficiency of AI, Gaudet underscores the importance of human oversight. He advises reviewers to critically evaluate AI outputs, treating them as if they were contributions from an intern. “Don’t just take what ChatGPT writes, copy it, paste it and call it good,” he cautioned. “You have to review this in the same way you would normally review anything.”

In addition to his administrative role, Gaudet is actively involved in educating local governments about AI. He conducts AI courses and coaching sessions and maintains a YouTube channel dedicated to AI tutorials and reviews, further solidifying his commitment to advancing technology in public service.