What Is AI, and Why Does It Matter?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is everywhere—from headlines to hallways, from staff meetings to city council agendas. Yet despite the buzz, many public sector leaders are still asking: What exactly is AI, and why should my organization care about it now?
This blog is the first in a three-part series exploring AI and its implications for government. We start with the basics: what AI is (and isn’t), where AI is already being used, and why now is the time to engage.
Why AI Isn’t Just the Latest Tech Trend
Public sector leaders have seen technology hype cycles come and go: blockchain, IoT, smart cities. Many chose to wait them out. So why is AI different?
Because this time, the technology is already inside the tools you’re using. It doesn’t require capital investment or buying a new platform. Instead, it requires leadership attention, alignment, and risk awareness. AI isn’t brand new, but it is at an inflection point that requires the attention and direction of government leaders.
Agencies with strong digital foundations may see faster gains. But even those playing catch-up can take advantage of AI—if they focus on the use cases and risks that matter most.
AI Isn’t Coming, It’s Already Here
AI is more than tools like ChatGPT. The technology is broader and has been integrated into digital systems to create efficiencies and internal control for some time. AI refers to technologies that replicate elements of human reasoning, perception, or decision-making. Some tools generate content (text, images, code); others detect patterns in large datasets. Many AI applications are already operating in systems government agencies use every day.
If a city permitting platform flags likely violations (Accela), a public housing authority’s waitlist system prioritizes urgency of staff review (Yardi), or a county’s finance team uses software to predict reconciliations and identify anomalies (AppZen), AI is in play. The user may not have explicitly chosen it, but it’s there.
And that’s the point: AI is no longer an optional feature—it's now seamlessly integrated into technologies that power everyday government operations, often without a strategy or governance model to guide its use. The successive blogs in this series will dive deeper into strategy and governance frameworks.
AI, Defined Broadly
The term “AI” is used here as a catch-all to describe several related technologies:
Generative AI: Language models like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, or Microsoft Copilot that can draft content, summarize text, or answer questions.
Machine Learning: Algorithms that learn patterns from data and can be used for fraud detection, workload forecasting, or clustering violations.
Embedded AI: Tools that quietly layer AI into enterprise platforms like HR portals, CRMs, and permitting systems.
AI-Driven Automation: Workflow tools that prioritize tasks, route service requests, or streamline approvals, often powered by AI behind the scenes.
These tools aren’t futuristic or fringe. They’re reshaping how staff work today and influencing what residents expect from digital services.
Why AI Matters for Government Now
BRONNER works with agencies facing tight budgets, high expectations, and evolving workforce needs. AI is relevant across the board:
Scale and Efficiency: Stretch limited resources by automating routine tasks.
Insight and Oversight: Detect trends or risks in workload, customer service, finance or compliance data.
Resident Expectations: Deliver faster, personalized digital services.
Accountability: Guard against decision-making bias, opacity, and unintended consequences with clear oversight.
This isn’t about chasing the next big thing. It’s about shaping how AI shows up in public systems—intentionally and responsibly.
Up Next
Part two explores how AI is already being used across government—from small productivity gains to more strategic operational shifts. Part three lays out a practical roadmap for responsible adoption, including risk management, vendor oversight, and governance.
For over 35 years, BRONNER has worked exclusively to improve the business of government with strategy, transformation, and accountability services.