Artificial intelligence (AI) is coming fast, and local levels of government like the County of Renfrew are trying to figure out what it means for the future.
Senior county staff recently held a workshop to grapple with the issue.
In a report to the county’s corporate services committee last week, CAO Craig Kelley said the workshop was “primarily meant to begin a discussion on artificial intelligence to better understand these developments and its potential implications for our work.”
Kelley said the session was “intentionally framed as a discussion rather than a technical briefing or decision-making exercise.”
“The objective was to allow leadership to consider the issue together before determining how the organization should respond.”
During the workshop, staff identified opportunities for the use of AI, as well as some of the challenges and risks in adopting it.
“Administrative workload was the most frequently cited opportunity,” he said.
“Many routine tasks involve reviewing information, drafting material, and organizing data. AI tools may help streamline these activities, allowing staff to focus more time on complex work and direct service to residents.”
Other opportunities included improving access to information, analyzing large volumes of data to identify “patterns or trends,” and supporting staff training.
Challenges include staff training and awareness, and “the need for clear organizational guidance regarding appropriate use, particularly when handling sensitive information.”
Privacy and cybersecurity were identified as the biggest risks…
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