18 December 2024

Media: Local Democracy Reporter

Topic: Council's use of AI

Enquiry

I'm using the below in a summer story and just wanted to double check it's all still relevant/doesn't need updating? Appreciate it's been a wee while.

Info provided in response to enquiry in Sept 2024:

From Rotorua Lakes Council Spokesperson:

Here at Rotorua Lakes Council, we are taking an optimistic and cautious approach.

There is the potential for AI or generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) to be used to enhance services and functions and create efficiencies, but the risks and benefits need to be well understood and managed.

In March, Council finalised a policy to guide the use of GenAI by council staff. This policy encourages the use of GenAI while protecting the Council's safety, privacy, and intellectual property rights.

Our staff will be allowed to use GenAI services when the benefits and risks are well understood and manageable. Fully open AI services will be limited, with a preference for Council-managed GenAI services.

We are still in the early stages of exploring GenAI applications in council. There are two main AI initiatives that we are currently looking at; the implementation of Microsoft CoPilot in support of general productivity like automated meeting minute transcription, and the other initiative is Gensys Cloud, a Customer Solutions Contact solution in support of their interactions with Customers.

Where it is appropriate staff will be given access. Natural language AI services (voice-activated digital assistants similar to Siri and Alex) has also been identified as an AI service that could be used in support of council’s call centre to quickly give consistent and correct information to customers.

The initial trial of the system is showing some positive results. Regarding costs, the current initiatives are helping build the Council's understanding of return on investments, which has been kept to a minimal (about $3k) deployment while this is understood.

Response

We confirmed that the information was still relevant and up-to-date and there was nothing further to add.