MetroLab Network Announces Esteemed Co-Chairs for In the Lab National Task Force:GenAI for Local Governments Effort
WASHINGTON, DC — MetroLab Network, a non-profit that drives positive impact in communities by empowering collaboration between two critical public institutions: local government and universities, is pleased to announce the appointment of five distinguished co-chairs who will play a pivotal role in guiding the focus of our next “In the Lab”: GenAI for Local Governments task force. These visionary leaders bring a wealth of expertise and a shared commitment to harnessing the power of artificial intelligence for the benefit of our communities.
The GenAI for Local Governments task force will consider policy recommendations with a two-pronged approach: 1) What is the world of the possible and how can GenAI better city services; and 2) What processes and policies should be put into place to ensure a just, equitable, and reliable use of this technology. MetroLab Network is proud to introduce our esteemed co-chairs, who will be instrumental in guiding this transformative endeavor:
- Stephanie Deitrick, Chief Data and Analytics Officer at City of Tempe, AZ
- Cheriene Floyd, Chief Data Officer at City of Miami
- Hoda Heidari, K&L Gates Career Development Assistant Professor in Ethics and Computational Technologies at Carnegie Mellon University
- Jim Loter, Chief Technology Officer (Interim) at the City of Seattle, WA
- Emily Yates, Chief Innovation Officer at Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)
These accomplished individuals bring knowledge and emerging technology expertise to help guide this national effort of leveraging AI to drive innovation and enhance the well-being of our communities. Their diverse perspectives and deep understanding of the intersection of technology and government will be invaluable in shaping the GenAI for Local Governments effort’s direction and impact.
Kate Burns, Executive Director of MetroLab Network, expressed her enthusiasm for the program and the newly appointed co-chairs, stating, “We are thrilled to welcome these exceptional individuals as co-chairs of the GenAI for Local Governments program. Their collective wisdom and dedication to using AI as a force for good in our cities will undoubtedly propel this initiative to new heights. We look forward to their leadership in advancing equitable, data-driven solutions that address the unique challenges faced by local governments.”
The In the Lab: GenAI for Local Governments program represents a significant milestone in MetroLab Network’s ongoing commitment to fostering collaboration between academia, local governments, and other partners. Together with our distinguished co-chairs, we are excited to embark on this journey towards developing a tool and asset that will help empower local governments to create more efficient, resilient, and inclusive communities. To date, this task force includes over 130 individuals, representing over 40 unique local governments and 16 universities among other organizations such as nonprofits and private startups.
For more information about MetroLab Network and the GenAI for Local Governments program, please visit https://metrolabnetwork.org/ai-initiative/.
About MetroLab Network:
MetroLab Network is a non-profit that drives positive impact in communities by empowering collaboration between two critical public institutions: local government and universities. We believe science and research can live and flourish in cities and their city halls — bringing innovation and solutions to the front door of communities. We believe transformative partnerships between these institutions are a necessary evolution to the innovation and scientific movement of tomorrow. The challenges cities and counties face are complex, and to create transformative change we bring together an ecosystem of research and doers.
MetroLab’s “In the Lab” series is a national initiative to bring practitioners and researchers together on a particular policy subject. The 2022 initiative focused on data governance, producing a robust policy guide and resource library for local governments. This publication can be found at metrolabnetwork.org/datagovernance.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Stefania Di Mauro-Nava; stefania.nava@metrolabnetwork.org
