Lancaster, CA deploys agentic AI permitting platform to cut approval times from months to days
Lancaster, California became one of the first US cities to deploy a next-generation AI permitting platform from Labrynth, using agentic AI workflows to automate application screening. The platform reduces errors and back-and-forth, cutting approval times from months to days. Mayor R. Rex Parris launched the initiative alongside Labrynth's Red Tape Index, a national benchmark measuring permitting speed and transparency, to turn permitting into a driver of housing and infrastructure growth.
Lancaster, CA
United States
Denver, CO uses AI to streamline building permit reviews and target 80% first-round approval rate
Denver's Permitting Office launched CivCheck, an AI-enabled plan review platform by Clariti, to tackle a backlog of housing permits. Currently only 30% of applications pass on first submission — the tool prompts applicants to upload required documents, flags incomplete data in real time, and generates AI reports to speed up staff review. Denver's goal is to raise the first-round approval rate to at least 80%.
Denver, CO
United States
Prince William County, VA launches multilingual 311 portal with AI chatbot for resident services
Prince William County launched a new resident-facing 311 portal in May 2025, giving residents a central place to submit service requests and get answers to questions. The county is expanding the platform with AI chatbots and voice assistants to serve residents whose first language is not English, broadening access to government services across the community.
Prince William County, VA
United States
Orange County, FL upgrades to next-gen 911 so residents can text and video first responders
Orange County transitioned its emergency communications from analog to digital next-generation 911, enabling residents to send videos and texts directly to first responders alongside traditional voice calls. The upgrade modernizes how the county handles emergencies, giving responders richer information and making 911 more accessible to residents who may struggle with voice-only communication.
Orange County, FL
United States
New York, NY launches MyCity portal to unify access to services and benefits for residents
New York City launched MyCity (mycity.nyc.gov), a centralized digital portal that lets residents search, apply for, and track city services and benefits across multiple agencies. The initial phase focuses on childcare subsidies, enabling users to check eligibility, apply, and track services in 10 languages. Future phases will add job-seeking and small business support. The platform aims to reduce bureaucracy and improve information-sharing across agencies.
New York, NY
United States
Chattanooga, TN develops AI chatbot to help residents navigate city codes
Chattanooga is developing an AI chatbot to help residents understand and navigate city codes by answering questions and locating relevant sections. The city formed an internal working group to pilot and test AI applications before any public release, prioritizing responsible deployment. The chatbot is currently in an experimental internal phase, with plans to make it available to residents once fully validated.
Chattanooga, TN
United States
Raleigh, NC builds citywide AI strategy through cross-department pilots and employee training
Raleigh is taking a 'crawl, walk, run' approach to AI, running low-risk internal pilots before broader deployment. The city launched an internal AI chatbot in October 2025 to help staff navigate HR and IT systems, piloted an agentic help desk, and began testing AI for traffic analysis and waste optimization. Employees are trained in prompt engineering, data privacy, and AI limitations.
Raleigh, NC
United States
New York, NY embeds tech teams in city agencies to accelerate digital services
New York City has launched the Public Interest Technology (PIT) Crew programme, embedding teams of product managers, designers, engineers, and user researchers directly into city agencies to build digital public services faster. Five crews will compress project timelines from years to months, starting with the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection's Click to Cancel subscription enforcement portal. One crew is supported by The Rockefeller Foundation through the Mayor's Fund.
New York, NY
United States
San Jose, CA upskills over 1,000 city staff to build their own AI tools
San Jose developed a 10-week AI training programme in partnership with San Jose State University that has equipped over 1,000 municipal employees with skills to create their own AI-powered tools. Employees across IT, Transportation, and Fire departments have built practical AI assistants that streamline workflows, reduce processing time, and improve service delivery. The programme represents a deliberate shift toward building internal AI capacity rather than relying solely on external vendors.
San Jose, CA
United States
New York, NY maps resident language diversity to improve service delivery
New York City has unveiled NYC Language Explorer, an interactive mapping tool developed by the Department of City Planning to help agencies understand language diversity across neighbourhoods. The tool uses US Census data revealing that approximately 1.8 million New Yorkers have limited English proficiency, with Spanish the most common language in most boroughs. It enables evidence-based planning for service delivery and community outreach.
New York, NY
United States
Newcastle upon Tyne City Council, GB launches unified public Wi-Fi network
Newcastle City Council recently launched a unified public Wi-Fi network called ConneX, providing seamless connectivity across the city center and council buildings to replace fragmented hotspots. The initiative, delivered in partnership with Purple—which supplied £120,000 in free hardware and licenses—and funded by the UK Government’s Levelling Up program, enables secure roaming and single-login access without repeated passwords.
Newcastle upon Tyne City Council, GB
United Kingdom
Kortrijk (Courtrai), VWV implements Virtual Assistant platform to enhance citizen access
The municipal government of Kortrijkhas implemented a multilingual Virtual Assistant platform to enhance citizen access to local services. Integrated with content management systems like WordPress and Drupal, the platform allows seamless interaction in multiple languages, catering to the town's diverse population. This technology streamlines administrative processes by providing instant responses to common queries and guiding users through services.
Kortrijk (Courtrai), VWV
Belgium