What is Generative AI? Practical Insights for Council Teams

In council meetings across the UK, we're increasingly hearing the term "generative AI" mentioned when discussing digital transformation. But what exactly is it, and how might it impact the work of local authorities?

Beyond Basic Automation

Generative AI represents a significant leap from traditional AI systems. While earlier technologies might have helped categorise planning applications or analyse traffic patterns, generative AI can actually create new content - from text and images to videos and code.

For council officers, this means having tools that don't just analyse existing information but can generate entirely new material in response to your requests or "prompts".

How Does Generative AI Work?

These systems are built on models trained on massive datasets. For instance:

• A text-generating system (like those writing meeting summaries) might be trained on billions of text documents
• An image generator (perhaps creating visuals for council campaigns) would learn from millions of existing images
• A code generator would analyse vast repositories of programming code

When you input a prompt - whether it's "Summarise this 50-page housing report" or "Create an image for our recycling campaign" - the system generates new content based on patterns it learned during training.

Potential Applications in Local Government

For councils operating with constrained resources, generative AI offers several promising uses:

• Rapidly drafting standard communications to residents
• Creating first drafts of reports or meeting summaries
• Generating visuals for public information campaigns
• Helping translate materials into multiple languages
• Producing code for simple digital services

The primary benefit is speed - tasks that might take staff hours can often be completed in minutes, freeing up time for more complex work.

Integration into Existing Tools

You might already be using generative AI without realising it. Recent versions of common software like Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Cloud now include generative AI features, from text summarisation to image creation tools.

This integration means councils don't necessarily need to purchase standalone AI systems to benefit from these capabilities.

Considerations for Councils

While generative AI offers exciting possibilities, it brings important considerations:

• Generated content reflects patterns in training data, including any biases
• Outputs should always be reviewed by staff before public release
• Clear policies around attribution and transparency are essential
• Councillors and residents may have questions about how these tools are used

Looking Ahead

As these technologies continue to develop rapidly, councils that thoughtfully experiment with generative AI tools may discover significant efficiency gains and new approaches to service delivery.

The key is balancing innovation with appropriate governance and accountability - ensuring these powerful tools serve your community's needs effectively.