Miami-Dade County to develop ‘guiding principles’ for AI

Eileen Higgins' focus remains on transportation and housing. Image via Miami-Dade County.

Within the next six months, Miami-Dade will have its first set of rules for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in county operations.

Miami-Dade Commissioners on Thursday unanimously approved a resolution by Eileen Higgins directing Mayor Daniella Levine Cava’s office to establish “guiding principles” for county staff to abide by in using the fast-developing technology.

Levine Cava’s office is also tasked with studying the upsides of AI in government services and the various dangers it poses.

The information is due back to the County Commission within 180 days.

The resolution, which Juan Carlos Bermudez, René García and Robert Gonzalez co-sponsored, notes the “rapid growth and widespread availability of AI applications” such as ChatGPT, which in February set a new record as the fastest-growing consumer application in history by reaching 100 million users within two months of its public launch.

That explosion in use and interest, the measure says, demonstrates “the increasing reliance on AI in diverse fields” and the “potential revolutionizing (of) service delivery, operational efficiency and resource allocation.” However, “the improper and unbridled use of AI would create significant threats to communities across the world,” including the spread of disinformation, misuse of private information, cybersecurity breaches, sudden labor force displacement and algorithmic biases that could “further marginalize various communities.”

At a minimum, Levine Cava’s office must produce a framework for AI use that includes considerations of transparency, fairness, accountability, privacy protection and the avoidance of discriminatory practices. The Mayor or her designee is directed to evaluate “any relevant current practices from states and municipalities in the United States and collaborate with relevant stakeholders, including experts in AI ethics and legal professions…”

The popularity and accessibility of AI has been rapid. A recent evaluation of job search and job opening data by Workyard, a construction labor management platform, found that the position of AI prompt engineer — a person who specializes in crafting and refining prompts for AI systems, particularly those based on natural language processing — is the most in-demand new career on the market, with 7,000 job openings and 60,750 Google searches between June 2022 and June 2023. Other popular new positions include AI product manager, of which there were 3,000 job openings in the past year, and AI research scientist.

Accordingly, steps governments at every level in America have taken steps to address the technology.

In Connecticut, lawmakers passed SB 1103, which among other things would establish a state Office of Artificial Intelligence, establish a task force to study AI and develop an artificial intelligence bill of rights, and create an “Artificial Intelligence Implementation Officer” responsible for ensuring agencies comply with state regulations of AI.

In Boston, the government released interim guidelines for generative AI use by city employees, including a required disclosure notice when AI has been used to produce or assist in producing a product or service.

Last year, in October, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy published its “Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights,” one year after announcing the launch of a process to develop such a document for “an AI-powered world.”

Florida lawmakers have yet to comprehensively tackle the issue.

Levine Cava’s office must also conduct a “thorough study” to identify and evaluate potentially innovative applications of AI within county departments and any possible threats the technology could pose to government operations and residents.

The Mayor or her designee must then examine the extent to which AI will lead to additional staffing requirements for the county and determine the feasibility of developing a training program to upskill current county employees. “If practicable,” the measure says, Levine Cava’s office should confer with local educational institutions, including the University of Miami, Florida International University, Miami Dade College and Barry University to establish a “talent pipeline” for county employment.

“The purpose of this collaboration,” the measure says, “Is to explore opportunities for fostering partnerships, internships, and employment programs that align with the county’s AI initiatives, promoting knowledge exchange, innovation, and the development of a skilled workforce equipped to contribute to the county’s AI-driven endeavors.”