InnovateUS releases "Unlocking the Power of Generative AI for Better Governance"

InnovateUS, which provides no-cost training in digital, data, and innovation skills to public servants, has released “Unlocking the Power of Generative AI for Better Governance,” an interactive, free video tutorial that teaches public professionals how to use Generative AI tools, including Bard, Bing and ChatGPT, to work more efficiently and better support the constituents they serve. It is available for free to the public on innovate-us.org

The 13-minute hands-on tutorial provides an introduction to how to use Generative AI to improve governance, community engagement, and responsiveness to residents.

Viewers will learn how AI can support memo writing, translate legalese and government-speak into plain English, summarize meetings and foster citizen engagement.  With interactive examples, the video is designed to encourage public professionals to try these emerging tools for themselves. The video is narrated using “synthetic media,” an AI system that generates video. The presenter is an avatar based on a real (paid) human.

The explainer does not endorse any product, but instead provides guidance on how to incorporate outputs responsibly into daily activities. Material produced through any of these tools should be used as a starting point and thoroughly fact-checked and proofed.

“The potential of generative AI in government is vast, and we are just beginning to scratch the surface,” said Beth Simone Noveck, Director of the GovLab and the Burnes Center for Social Change at Northeastern, which houses InnovateUS.  “As with all new technologies, the most important thing public leaders can do is gain hands-on experience in order to know first-hand how to balance the benefits against any risks. This is a critical first step to knowing how to use AI to create more responsive, effective and equitable governance.

A project of the GovLab and the Burnes Center for Social Change at Northeastern, InnovateUS is run by public servants for public servants. InnovateUS offers free at-your-own pace courses as well as weekly workshops on innovation skills for the public sector. On May 25th, InnovateUS will host “What the Heck is ChatGPT? How Generative AI will Impact Government,” with Alexis Bonnell Former USAID Chief Innovation Officer to further explain how tools like ChatGPT and Bard can support and shape government. To register and view the full list of upcoming workshops, visit: https://innovate-us.org/workshops