Digital transformation is the new reality of government operations, and refers to utilizing modern technology and tools to improve the efficiency of your local government workflows. With digital transformation comes new processes that many users and government workers are likely not familiar with yet.
By now, you have likely heard of Gen AI and maybe you have even used online tools such as ChatGPT. But many local government officials and workers do not understand the full and transformative capabilities of Gen AI in the workplace.
You may be wondering, “What is Gen AI?” or even “What is Gen AI actually capable of?”
It is clear that local government officials face challenges fully understanding rapidly emerging technology such as this advanced form of AI, as it advances more and more. New online solutions and tech are important to understand especially for local government offices because they improve day-to-day life for all public-sector workers.
Keep reading this article to learn exactly what Gen AI is, and its use-cases for modern workplaces such as yours!
What is Gen AI?
Generative Artificial Intelligence is AI that refers to systems possessing capabilities approaching or exceeding human-level intelligence. This term is often used to describe the next phase of AI development beyond what we currently have access to. Gen AI is able to exhibit human-like qualities such as creativity, empathy, adaptability, and the ability to learn and improve over time autonomously.
When speaking about Gen AI, it is imperative to explore the effectiveness of Gen AI in creating new content, including audio, code, images, text, simulations, and even videos, freeing up content creators from completing every step of their process manually.
What is Machine Learning AI?
Artificial intelligence is more common in everyday life than many realize. Artificial intelligence enables machines such as Siri and Alexa to mimic human intelligence and generate responses or complete tasks.
“Machine Learning” however is another form of AI that is more advanced and forward-thinking. This type of artificial intelligence was created to develop AI models that seem to actually “learn” from large data sets to “understand” patterns without any human direction. Machine learning enables artificial intelligence entities to analyze and study large data sets; they extract information from the data on their own, enabling them to respond with vast amounts of seemingly “human knowledge” that they pick up from data patterns.
In the common example, say you create a machine learning program to analyze several images of friendly cats. The AI program could easily identify patterns among the images, and then later select photos that would match the “friendly cat pattern” it has identified. Generative AI is a breakthrough in the work of researchers as rather than simply perceive and classify a photo of a cat, machine learning can now fully create an image or text description of a cat in seconds.
Learn about our guide on Local Government Data-Driven Decision-Making here!
How Are Machine Learning Models Trained To Work?
Initially, machine learning models created to work with text were trained by humans to classify various inputs according to rules/labels pre-set by the researchers. This type of training is called supervised learning because a human is in charge of “teaching” the model what to do by inputting information.
Impressively, the next generation of text-based machine learning models rely on what’s known as self-supervised learning. Self-supervised learning involves feeding a model a massive enough amount of text that it becomes able to generate predictions on its own. The ability of this generation of machine learning to recognize patterns in vast amounts of data and generate knowledgeable insights based on the patterns proves how advanced this technology is.
Consider reading our guide on Public Sector Robotic Process Automation: How RPA Can Transform Local Governments here!
What Can Gen AI Actually Do?
Generative AI is the newest generation of artificial intelligence technology, and houses far more skills and functions than anything before. These capabilities of Gen AI are based on learning to perform like a human, and can make life far easier for workers in any office. If you’re curious about the exact capabilities of Gen AI now, read on to learn the specific functions and abilities these programs possess:
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Advanced Problem-Solving
Gen AI systems can solve complex problems in areas such as science, medicine, engineering, and finance through analyzing more data than any team of experts could, instantaneously. By scanning data, identifying patterns, and generating insights based on patterns Gen AI can help users solve complicated and intricate issues.
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Personalized Assistance
Gen AI programs can provide personalized assistance in work or personal life, customizable to individuals based on their perceived preferences, patterns, and needs. Virtual assistants can understand natural language, anticipate user needs, and offer proactive support like scheduling, task management, and information retrieval that can automate various processes in municipal offices.
Learn about Government Data Storage Types & Considerations with our resource!
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Creative Work
Gen AI might be capable of achieving creative outcomes as well in fields such as writing, art, music composition, and design. Gen AI can analyze data sets in these fields, to become familiar enough to create seemingly new works on their own. Many practical uses of this tool include marketing team designs, copywriting work and ad campaigns for offices.
Check out this Guide To Building A Government Marketing Strategy To Engage Constituents!
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Language Translation and Understanding
Gen AI is able to break down language barriers across the world by providing accurate and natural language translation in real-time so users can participate in live conversations. These systems can also understand and generate human-like responses in multiple languages in real-time due to the speed and accuracy of the data pattern-recognition capabilities in machine learning.
6 Ways Gen AI Can Be Implemented In Your Office
Municipal offices face a myriad of work silos and slow moving processes that could be improved in seconds through the use of Gen AI. Here are a few of the implementations for your office:
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Virtual Assistants
Gen AI-powered virtual assistants provide customizable assistance to individuals that could help with tasks such as scheduling meetings, organizing emails, managing to-do lists. This saves human employees from having to dedicate time towards completing these mundane tasks manually.
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Data Analysis and Insights
Gen AI systems have the ability to analyze large volumes of data to extract insights, identify trends, and make accurate predictions relevant to your specific department's operations. Local government offices specifically benefit from this kind of data analysis
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Automated Documentation and Reporting
Gen AI can automate the creation of reports, presentations, and other documentation by synthesizing information from various sources and generating organized, well-structured content ready for presenting. Workers will no longer need to waste time gathering data and creating slide after slide to present. Instead, AI documenting can fully complete the process for you in the most optimized and ‘best of class' manner.
Consider these 3 Reasons to Automate Your Government Processes!
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Workflow Optimization
Gen AI systems could analyze workflows within your office's operations to identify inefficiencies or bottlenecks that commonly pop up in the office. Think about the frustrating roadblocks that pop up on you every day while you’re trying to finish your projects. The truth is, the same exact issues that slow down your workflows are probably popping up for all workers in your institution. Gen AI can identify the issues and suggest improvements for your office to streamline processes and increase productivity for all workers.
Learn about 5 Common Local Government Productivity Roadblocks here.
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Employee Training and Development
Gen AI is used by many to personalize employee training programs based on individual learning styles and learning preferences. Performance data allows these systems to deliver adaptive learning experiences for users based on patterns in how they interact with the training.
Read our Strategies for Training the Older Workforce on GovTech.
If an employee is repeatedly having issues with one aspect of working and learning, the AI can pick up on these occurrences and improve the way this employee is receiving training information, to better improve their comprehension.
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Security and Compliance
Gen AI should be leveraged to bolster security measures within the office by detecting and mitigating security threats based on historical data and monitoring network activity for suspicious behavior through pattern recognition. If a cyber attack is attempted or a breach of your networks, often Gen AI is able to detect the differentiation between the suspicious activity and typical activity, to alert workers of the threat.
Learn How to Train Government Workers on Cyber Security Threats here!
Gen AI For Your Office
By now, we all know that it is paramount for government officials to keep up with emerging tech trends and enhance efficiency in their municipal offices. You must consider adopting Gen AI into your office operations to fully take advantage of the impressive capabilities of the technology. Don’t be afraid of the modern world of technology innovation and digital transformation. Book a consultation with GovPilot to learn how we can help you experience a digital transformation for yourself.
Generative AI FAQs
Why is Gen AI impactful in offices?
Gen AI can learn exactly how your workers operate and learn to function and perform tasks in the way that the office employees would. This increases efficiency and decreases time-waste for office workers because its almost like they’re receiving an extra employee or assistant in their office!
Can anyone use Gen AI?
Gen AI is powerful, and the tool can be harnessed by anyone. Often these tools are simple, and require users to ask questions and wait for a response. People of all ages seem to be using Gen AI tools with efficiency and ease as they are user friendly, and self-explanatory.
Read On:
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- Government Cloud 2023: How Local Governments Can & Should Use the Cloud
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Sources:
https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-explainers/what-is-generative-ai