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
Dublin City Council, IE builds Ireland's first local government GenAI Lab
Dublin City Council is preparing its AI strategy for publication in Q3 2026, combining a two-tier governance structure, mandatory staff training, and Ireland's first Generative AI Lab dedicated to local government. The lab gives staff a structured environment to test AI tools and develop use cases before wider deployment. The strategy prioritises human oversight, transparency, privacy, fairness, accountability, and security from the outset.
Dublin City Council, IE
Ireland
Signal Mountain, TN leverages AI to streamline policy and hiring processes
Signal Mountain Town Manager Matt Justice regularly uses ChatGPT to draft policies, resolutions, ordinances, job descriptions, interview questions, and more, viewing it as a time-saving tool that provides a strong foundation but requires human editing and verification. Justice has applied AI to tasks like terminating leases for the Mountain Arts Community Center, creating fee ordinances, and assisting in the hiring process for roles such as community development director.
Signal Mountain, TN
United States
Calgary, AB launches Wave Tech Centre to boost innovation across city departments
Calgary has launched a new Wave Tech Centre aimed at fostering innovation within city departments by leveraging technology and collaboration. The center will serve as a hub for developing and implementing digital solutions to improve municipal services and operations. This initiative is part of the city's broader strategy to enhance efficiency and meet the evolving needs of its residents.
Calgary, AB
Canada
Victoria Daly, NT swaps regional data storage system for a more efficient cloud-based platform
Council officials pursued an alternative for a CouncilBiz system shared with other regional councils. The new system enables customization of apps and features by department rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Two-factor authentication prevents unauthorized access, while a mobile-friendly design supports remote access by employees. Local officials estimate an annual savings of AUD 157,000 in the system's first five years from pay-as-you-go licenses and improved productivity.
Victoria Daly, NT
Australia
Glenelg, VIC Business Process Management Project improves council responses to service requests
Glenelg previously relied on paper-based requests that led to inefficient communications and progress tracking. Department managers mapped service workflows for automation opportunities and practice improvements. A low-code platform supports online service requests and automates emails to relevant officers with necessary information. Council officials evaluate average timelines for each task and collaborate on service improvements thanks to the system's integration of departmental data.
Glenelg, VIC
Australia
Moorabool, VIC Project X reinforces new document naming convention through creative promotions
The council's shift to SharePoint in 2020 revealed inconsistencies in file names and drive locations. IT team members created a one-sheet defining a uniform naming convention based on six descriptive components. This convention allows any user to understand the document's purpose without opening a file. Volunteers from council departments promoted the new standard through artistic endeavors including a comic strip and a short film.
Moorabool, VIC
Australia
New York, NY participates in Consolidated Edison's demand response programs to reduce energy usage
New York City's administrative buildings are expanding their participation in demand response programs managed by Consolidated Edison in an effort to alleviate grid stress and reduce electricity costs. Approximately 555 city facilities across dozens of agencies and organizations are participating in the program this summer, including 90 new participants joining this summer. City buildings are also participating in a winter demand response program to cut natural gas usage.
New York, NY
United States
Rio de Janeiro, RJ summons all taxi drivers to efficiently complete permit transfer requests
The City Hall of Rio de Janeiro's Municipal Transport Department is convening all taxi drivers with a permit transfer request in progress so that they can quickly resolve pending issues and complete the processes. The lists with the names and process numbers will be published in the Notices and Contract Terms section of the Official Gazette of the Municipality.
Rio de Janeiro, RJ
Brazil
Bundaberg, QLD takes cloud-first approach to public services with Civica's Authority Altitude
Local officials worked with Civica on a council-wide digital transformation focused on flexibility and cost efficiency. The Authority Altitude solution supported uncomplicated integration of processes from in-house systems and outside vendors. Council officers and residents can easily access Bundaberg's digital services from any connected device. The IT team benefits from predictive maintenance capabilities and minimal operational costs, thus saving resources for other initiatives.
Bundaberg, QLD
Australia