AUSTIN, Texas — For Steven Apodaca, vice chairman of the City of Austin’s Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission, now is the time to get ahead of the emerging technology of artificial intelligence.
“Right now we’re sort of at an inflection point when it comes to AI. It’s progressed to the point many cities, businesses and vendors are starting to use this,” Apodaca said.
The local tech consultant is one of many members of a newly formed task force assigned by City Council to provide feedback on its uses and where to draw the line. One example already in play, recording devices, are still highly unregulated. Little is known about where that information goes and what’s done with it.
Item 24 was spearheaded by City Council member Vanessa Fuentes, who says it’s important for tech hubs like Austin to join the likes of New York, Seattle and San Jose with guidelines and policies for how AI can and should be used by city municipalities.
“Since this is innovative technology, we want to have guardrails in place,” Fuentes said. “We want to ensure our residents understand their rights, data privacy and what’s available, and that they understand their civil liberties as well. This is a hot topic of conversation, but we know AI is here today.”
University of Texas at Austin journalism professor Sharon Strover was already working on a focus group looking at the use of AI as it relates to cameras and drones when the city called. While the educator was happy to share her data, that’s certainly a topic of conversation.
“At minimum it’s important for city governments to know who’s doing what,” Strover said. “And for city government to be acquainted with privacy concerns residents and citizens might air.”
A system of checks and balances to better prepare for the opportunities and unintended consequences of a machine-learning universe.
“I think there’s an opportunity for the city, commission and for UT and even Fortune 500 companies to really educate people,” Apodaca said.