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Chelsea Palacio, Public Information Manager, Information Technology Department
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San José Leads GovAI Coalition and Invites Partnership for Responsible AI Governance in Local Government
Coalition lead by City of San José includes over 150 agencies
SAN JOSE, Calif. (March 13, 2024) – The City of San José established the GovAI Coalition to help shape the future of artificial intelligence (AI) in government. With the continued access and use of AI, the City of San José and the GovAI Coalition welcomes agencies to join our efforts of bringing a voice in shaping the future of AI. To learn more and join the Coalition, visit
sanjoseca.gov/GovAI.
“San José is the worldwide hub for innovation – and the latest innovations are happening in AI,” said Mayor Matt Mahan. “It just makes sense for our city to lead the charge in both the creation of these new technologies and the responsible use of them. I’m excited to welcome new partners to the table as we discuss the future of AI and government.”
“The Coalition is focused on establishing standards for AI policies, procurement, implementation, and ensuring public privacy to advance the use of AI in delivering government services,” said City Manager Jennifer Maguire. “This coalition is a wonderful opportunity for our City to work with other government agencies on AI best practices. I look forward to seeing how this coalition of like-minded partners will foster the current and future AI environment for our workforce.”
The City of San José launched the Coalition in 2023 to create standards for responsible and purposeful AI in government. Led by the City of San José Information Technology Department, in partnership with civic agencies including Austin, Cleveland, Long Beach, San Antonio, City of San Diego, San Diego County, St. Paul, Colorado’s Department of Revenue, and the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon, the Coalition evolved into a national movement for AI in the public sector. With a growing network of more than 400 public servants from over 150 agencies, the City encourages other organizations to join the coalition to be better informed and understand local AI needs.
“The City of San José’s investment in the Digital Privacy and AI Office positioned the City to drive the effort for using AI in a way that benefits everyone,” said Khaled Tawfik, Chief Information Officer and Director of the Information Technology Department. “When we released our first
AI guidelines, we received an overwhelming response from other agencies facing the same challenges minimizing the risks around AI bias, privacy, and cybersecurity. The AI models we use are the same that every city in the country might use, so it was clear that we needed a coalition to consolidate our intention and influence on the global AI developers.”
The Coalition has released an open letter and a toolkit to help public agencies adopt and implement responsible AI practices. The Coalition’s priority will be to practice using the toolkit and implementing AI solutions to enhance civic services and public engagement. These tools have intentionally been aligned with emerging national standards and unify the needs of many local governments. The open letter and tools are available at
sanjoseca.gov/GovAI.
About the City of San José
With almost one million residents, San José is one of the most diverse large cities in the United States and is Northern California’s largest city and the 12th largest city in the nation. San José’s transformation into a global innovation center has resulted in one of the largest concentrations of technology companies and expertise in the world.
About the Information Technology Department
The San José Information Technology Department (ITD) partners across City departments to anticipate and proactively deliver solutions that enable thriving City services. The department’s mission is to enrich the quality of life in San José through innovation, collaboration, and engagement.
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