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Jul 3
Across the country, public-sector leaders face a familiar dilemma: communities need more resources, but government budgets, staff, and time are limited. In the past, this tension often led to trade-offs, delays and small, incremental fixes. But today, some government leaders are taking a different approach. Rather than stretching outdated systems even further, they’re using technology to fundamentally rethink how cities, counties, and states operate.
At the recent Sand Technologies Evolve Summit, public officials, including Governor Albert Bryan, Jr., Senator Rodney Ellis, Mayor Steve Benjamin, and John Paul Farmer shared how they’re navigating this moment. Their message was consistent: technology isn’t just helping governments keep up. It’s allowing them to solve problems that once felt impossible.
Caution has long been the default in many government offices. Fear of unintended consequences or public backlash has often discouraged leaders from trying new approaches. But as the panelists pointed out, inaction now carries even greater risks.
Aging infrastructure, workforce shortages, cyber threats, climate change and economic pressures are all accelerating. The gap between what residents expect and what governments can realistically deliver is also growing wider. As one speaker put it, “There’s a widening space between the old ways of doing things and the realities we face today.”
Given these challenges, public-sector leaders must find new and creative ways to respond. Their innovation should not just be about keeping with private-sector trends, but more importantly, ensuring essential services remain viable and responsive to the communities they serve.
AI is steadily becoming a practical tool in the public sector. Throughout the discussion, speakers shared examples of how technology is reshaping government operations, not through flashy experiments, but through targeted, practical solutions.
Traffic remains one of the biggest headaches for municipalities. In recent studies, U.S. residents have consistently named traffic management as a top concern. One of the ways cities have attempted to address this issue is by deploying toll systems, which regulate vehicle flow and generate revenue for infrastructure projects. However, many systems still rely on outdated, manual processes, resulting in high labor costs, slower service, and frequent errors.
Harris County took a different approach. Officials adopted an AI-powered free-flow video tolling system that uses facial recognition technology to automate payment verification. This innovation reduced their reliance on manual staffing by 60% and improved the speed and reliability of service for residents.
Workforce shortages aren’t limited to the private sector; they’re also hitting local governments hard, with more than 60% of local agencies reporting challenges in filling roles. These shortages directly affect the development and delivery of critical services and infrastructure projects, forcing many public-sector leaders to find new ways to keep projects moving and services running.
In the U.S. Virgin Islands, where limited workforce capacity and high living costs pose persistent challenges, AI is playing a key role in maintaining core systems. Local officials are using AI to predict water and sewer line failures, allowing them to make proactive repairs and reduce service disruptions.
The region is also investing in AI-powered energy management, using smart grids to optimize power usage during the day and store excess energy for later use. This approach is especially critical in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where energy costs are more than twice the national average.
Public health is another area where technology is making a measurable impact. In rural regions with limited access to care, officials are leveraging AI-powered tools and remote monitoring to improve health services.
Through systems like the Rural Health Operating System, clinics now have access to real-time data to track patient health, forecast disease outbreaks, monitor service delivery and manage medical supply chains. This approach helps create a more proactive, efficient healthcare system that improves outcomes while easing the strain on overstretched clinics.
While AI and automation offer significant potential to improve government services, the panelists agreed on one point: technology must serve people, not just systems. Operational efficiency matters, but it is not enough on its own.
The most effective projects weren’t simply those that saved money or automated processes. They were the ones that made services easier to access, more responsive, and more equitable, whether through quicker toll payments, more reliable energy grids or better health outcomes. These are improvements that residents can feel in their daily lives.
Another key point raised by the leaders was the need to rebuild public trust. In a time when many feel distant from government, trust is essential to the success of AI initiatives. People need to understand how these solutions work and experience their benefits firsthand to regain confidence in both the technology and the institutions behind it.
Finally, the leaders stressed that technology must be deployed carefully to avoid widening existing disparities. Equity, they noted, isn’t about equal distribution, but rather about addressing deep-rooted structural gaps. While data can reveal where these gaps exist, it ultimately falls to public leaders to make decisions that prioritize fairness and ensure technology serves all communities.
As more government leaders explore new technologies, the real opportunity lies in rethinking how tools like AI, data and automation can reshape government operations and make services faster, more equitable and more effective. The leaders who act now, with a mix of boldness and care, will position their cities and states for long-term resilience. Those who delay risk falling even further behind.
For companies and partners seeking to collaborate with governments, the message is just as clear: focus on solutions that address real needs, prioritize transparency and are ready to scale beyond small pilots. The pressure to do more with less isn’t new and it’s not going away. However, for governments willing to change, it also presents an opportunity to build stronger, more resilient systems for the long term.
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