Seattle has unveiled a new plan for incorporating artificial intelligence in permitting, public safety, customer service and more.
The city has published a new 26-page document that includes guidelines for training employees, evaluating the effectiveness of AI tools and expanding the use of AI to a variety of city operations.
Seattle was one of the first cities in the country to adopt generative AI guidelines in 2023.
Various AI pilot programs are already underway in Seattle, including a partnership with software company to reduce permitting waiting periods, and a public-private partnership between a enterprise software provider, a software company and the Seattle Department of Transportation on a project that uses AI to analyze traffic and identify dangerous streets.
The city made the announcement last week at AI House, a co-working, event and “incubation” space on the Seattle waterfront launched through a public-private partnership earlier this year. In attendance were members of Seattle’s AI industry, which the city plans to incorporate to help address civic issues.
The new AI plan alludes to workforce transitions and organizational change. When asked for clarification, Mayor Bruce Harrell said it was “premature” to go into specifics, but noted that the city would take a “human-centered approach” and work with labor groups when determining what tasks could be replaced by AI.
The updated 2025 policy states that AI outputs must be reviewed by humans for accuracy and bias.
If significant amounts of text generated by AI are used in a final product, the policy will require the prompt to disclose that information.
Photo by Josh Fields from Pexels
