Seattle is now gaining attention for using AI to promote digital equity. In a recent Digital Equity Learning Network session, the City’s Chief Privacy Officer Ginger Armbruster and Privacy Program Manager Sarah Carrier led “AI 101 & City of Seattle Initiatives,” highlighting how AI can benefit everyone.
As explained in a Seattle IT blog post, this emerging technology is apparently making a tangible difference in public services, streamlining access to housing, education, and healthcare systems, a big step for a city aiming to make sure all its residents—regardless of their zip code—can tap into the resources they need. "AI is here, it’s been here so we have to figure out what our approach is and how we can leverage it to get the most out of AI to help us," Sarah Carrier pointed out, addressing the urgency in embracing the tech.
Seattle is using AI to better serve its underserved populations by analyzing data to ensure public services meet real needs. The approach focuses on customization, with services shaped by community input and tailored to individual experiences. In their presentation, Privacy Program Manager Sarah Carrier and Chief Privacy Officer Ginger Armbruster outlined how these community-driven AI projects are built from residents’ feedback, creating a model for inclusive urban technology. For those interested in how AI can serve the public, the “AI 101” video offers a clear, accessible look at the technology and its role in governance.
