Following an internal survey revealing a significant gap in artificial intelligence (AI) policy awareness, the city of Indianapolis and Marion County, Indiana, have partnered with InnovateUS to provide AI training to their employees.
InnovateUS is a nonprofit specializing in educating government employees about AI, having collaborated with several other agencies, including those in New Jersey, Maryland, and California. Their focus centers on promoting responsible AI adoption, emphasizing ethics, and the need for human oversight in AI-driven systems. The training will cover introductory AI concepts and a data classification course, prerequisite for employees to qualify for a Microsoft 365 Copilot license. Copilot is an AI productivity tool employed in applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, offering assistance in a variety of tasks.
Collin Hill, the chief information officer for the city of Indianapolis and Marion County, noted in a press release, “This partnership with InnovateUS establishes a strong foundation for our AI journey, equipping city-county employees with critical knowledge about AI, its potential, challenges, and ethical considerations.” He added, “Beyond training, we’re laying the groundwork for thoughtful AI integration in local government that prioritizes data protection, security and responsible implementation to serve our community better.”
The internal AI usage and awareness survey, conducted in May 2024, showed a concerning lack of understanding among city and county employees. Of the over 600 employees surveyed, less than 19 percent were aware of the existing AI policy, even though it had been in effect for over six months. Moreover, nearly half of the respondents lacked knowledge of data classification levels, and what types of data were appropriate for AI tools. The survey also revealed that 43 percent of employees reported utilizing an AI-driven tool, with nearly a third of those admitting to using it at work. Uses cited for AI at work included responding to residents (17 percent) and data analysis (22 percent), highlighting a demand for comprehensive data security and safety training. A considerable portion (28 percent) reported using AI in “other” ways, leaving involvement and data security unclear within their processes.
In late 2023, the City-County Council established the AI Commission to evaluate present AI practices, gather information, and make policy recommendations for responsible AI use among Indianapolis and Marion County government agencies. Plans for 2025 and beyond, outlined by the commission, include the hiring of both a chief data and privacy officer, the development of an AI security framework, and updates to the original AI policy. The initial deployment of the Copilot experiment with the city-county is scheduled for the second quarter of 2025.
