Last November, I bought HBR’s The Year in Tech, 2023 to catch up on the latest and most innovative technologies disrupting markets and businesses. By the end of 2022, the book was already obsolete and outdated! OpenAI’s ChatGPT was the trend buster of 2023 and it changed how we view the coming decade.
Source: https://blogs.idc.com/2023/06/28/no-turning-back-ai-everywhere/
By 2035, AI will be everywhere and it will revolutionize the way we live, work, play, and learn. In this article, I focus on how AI will change the way we learn, the impending digital divide in education, and the need to address the AI skills crisis, particularly at the local government level, as we approach the era of AI everywhere.
A Paradigm Shift in Education & Learning
Once upon a time, only the elite were entitled to an education. Then the industrial revolution happened, creating jobs that never existed before, resulting in a rise in demand for a literate workforce also known as “factory workers”. Further, improvements in technology led to the prospect of universal access to education.
The advent of computers and the internet was a game-changer. It led to a paradigm shift in the education system by shifting the focus away from traditional methods of teaching, where the teacher was the main source of knowledge and information. Integration of technology in education shifted the focus to personalized, user-centered approaches to individual learning catering to diverse learning styles. The era of AI everywhere will require a further shift in our focus from personalized learning to curiosity, imagination, self-discovery, and creativity.
“Learning is the new skill. Imagination, creation, and asking new questions are at its core.”
The Impending AI-driven Digital Divide in Education
Michael Trucano’s commentary on AI and the next digital divide in education shines a light on the evolution of the digital divide in education. The age of the Internet created the second digital divide, and AI everywhere will lead us to the third digital divide.
Source: https://www.brookings.edu/articles/ai-and-the-next-digital-divide-in-education/
The digital divide in education will widen skills gaps which will worsen social and economic inequities. It is important to understand that AI will not only destroy jobs, but it will also create new ones that require people with AI skills. Those who have access to people with AI skills will derive the most benefit from AI advancements.
Challenge for Local Governments
Researchers at the Brooking Institute found that AI jobs are more geographically concentrated than any other digital technologies. Most AI jobs and research remain concentrated in superstar cities such as San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, Los Angeles, New York, and Boston. The geographic concentration of AI activities will further make it challenging for local governments who already struggle with attracting and retaining IT and cybersecurity professionals.
Successful AI adoption in government requires proactive and strategic measures to address the AI skills gap. Here are some strategies that local governments can use to bridge the AI skills gap:
- Learn from Peers: Several state and local governments have taken initiatives to educate and train public servants. New Jersey has launched a free training program for public servants to learn AI and data skills. InnovateUS delivers biweekly workshops to public-service professionals and is offering a course on “AI for Public Professionals” this fall. Indiana’s Data Proficiency Program and SF’s Data Academy offer data training to government officials.
- Invest in Learning and Re-Skilling: Investment in re-skilling and learning should be a top priority in AI adoption strategy. In 2020, the City of San Antonio’s Office of Innovation partnered with the Department of Human Resources to launch an Innovation Academy for its staff. The Academy runs an intensive training program that offers foundational data analysis and user experience techniques to city staff. Earmarking funds for skills training and further incentivizing employees by offering learning stipends, and job growth opportunities can foster a culture of learning and curiosity for AI within the local government.
- Rethink Recruitment: Local governments should hire individuals with diverse and multidisciplinary backgrounds, who are eager to learn and experiment. Ensuring diversity, inclusion, and representation in hiring will be key to identifying and mitigating the potential harms of AI.
- Build an AI Community of Practice: Build an internal AI community of practice to share best practices, lessons learned, and create resources that can be shared across the local government. California Department of Technology (CDT) is leading an AI Community of Practice (AICoP) where they invite experts and government officials to share their insights on AI and its use in government.
- Strengthen Data Governance: Data is the foundation of any digital technology. Robust data governance practices will be imperative as governments adopt AI. MetroLab Network Data Governance Task Force recently published Model Data Governance Policy And Practice Guide For Cities and Counties to enhance the ability of local governments to use data efficiently and ethically. The guide also offers a data governance and data policy resource repository.
- Build Capacity for AI Activities: Strategic partnerships with universities and businesses can attract AI talent and promote AI research. North-central Florida and the University of Florida through a $70 million partnership with NVIDIA and UF alumnus Chris Malachowsky (NVIDIA’s co-founder) secured powerful computational tools, providing an impressive example of how states and regions can bootstrap philanthropy and public-private partnerships to bolster their AI capabilities.
Without sufficient knowledge of AI among government officials and proactive investment in re-skilling and AI talent, the benefits of AI cannot be equitably distributed throughout society.
