Generative AI Readiness: Data Governance for Local Governments

The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ASPA as an organization.

By Thuong “Annie” Bui
November 1, 2024

According to a recent survey by the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO), 95 percent of CIOs from 46 states expect GenAI integration to significantly affect data management, yet only 22 percent have data quality program in place. In discussions with public leaders across different regions, I found that local governments are currently behind in data governance. This gap can lead to increase the risk of cybersecurity threats such as inaccuracies, bias, privacy breaches, ransomware or prompt injection attacks.

Just as a chef must prepare the kitchen and gather appropriate ingredients before cooking a big meal, effective data management is essential for ensuring GenAI readiness. Now is the time for public leaders to come together and build a strong data governance framework to ensure responsible use of AI.

Prepping Your Kitchen

Before any cooking begins, a chef ensures the kitchen is well-organized with clear roles. Similarly, local governments need a structured data governance framework and a workforce that understands the value of data management:

Selecting the Finest Ingredients

The success of any AI system depends on the quality of the data it’s fed. Poor or incomplete data leads to unreliable outcomes, just like spoiled ingredients would ruin a dish. For local governments, ensuring data quality is the first and most critical step:

Handling Ingredients with Care

Just as chefs handle ingredients safely, local governments must ensure that sensitive data is protected:

Balancing Flavors in GenAI Outputs

Just like too much salt can ruin a dish, bias in AI-generated outputs can lead to skewed or unfair outcomes, eroding public trust.

Sharing Data Across Departments

Imagine a kitchen where each chef guards their recipes and ingredients, refusing to share or collaborate. The result would be a disjointed menu and inefficient operations. Data silos (where information is isolated in different departments) create similar challenges:

Collaborating with Other Kitchens

Just like chefs collaborate with farmers or suppliers for the best ingredients, local governments often collaborate with external partners, such as state agencies or private organizations. These partnerships add complexity to data governance but also offer valuable opportunities for shared goals and resources to achieve more impactful outcomes.

A great example of such collaboration is the GovAI Coalition, a nationwide initiative where local governments across the country unite to advance AI-driven solutions. By joining the GovAI Coalition, public leaders can work together on common goals of ensuring responsible AI use by sharing GenAI use cases, policy development and data governance best practices.

Cooking up GenAI Success: Setting the Table!

Embracing on the journey to integrate GenAI is like preparing a complex meal. It requires careful planning, quality ingredients, and teamwork. By approaching data governance with the same care and attention as a chef in a well-run kitchen, local governments can set the table for successful GenAI initiatives that not only deliver productive results but also earn the trust of their “diners”—the constituents they serve.

Author: Annie Bui is a Doctoral Candidate in Public Administration major, where her research focus on the integration of GenAI in Local Governments. She is the current President of Student Public Administration Association (SPAA) at University of La Verne. At the same time, she works for Small Business Development Center (SBDC), a non-profit organization funded by Small Business Administration, provides zero cost one-on-one consulting services to entrepreneurs for their new and existing businesses. As both a researcher and a practitioner, she committed not just to discussing theories but to actively seeking comprehensive resources that enhance our understanding of how to leverage this technology effectively in the public sector – a sector traditionally slower to adopt technology than the private sector. Her aim is to explore practical solutions that help public leaders to catch up with this fast-changing technology by being ready and proactive in adopting it. Her monthly article series will cover various topics related to GenAI in the current local government settings. Each article is designed to give government agencies the essential knowledge and tools to prepare for an effective and responsible GenAI adoption.

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