San Francisco Rolls Out AI Chatbot to Support City Workers
San Francisco has started using a new AI chatbot to assist city staff with daily tasks. With Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat, powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4o, the city will provide nearly 30,000 employees with support for writing reports, summarizing materials, and analyzing information.
City officials aim to increase productivity without replacing workers. This rollout makes San Francisco the largest U.S. city to use generative AI across government departments. It also positions the city as a leader in how local governments can test new technologies responsibly.
Mayor Daniel Lurie explained, “San Francisco is the global home of AI, and now, we’re putting that innovation to work with Microsoft Copilot Chat … allowing City Hall to better deliver for our residents.”
To protect data and ensure accuracy, the city has introduced strict rules. Employees must:
- Avoid inputting private or sensitive dat
- Fact-check all AI responses
- Review everything before sharing or publishing
- Disclose when AI contributed to the content
In addition, San Francisco partnered with nonprofit InnovateUS to train staff on how to use the tool. The group offers free workshops and self-guided learning for public-sector employees.
This launch is part of a broader initiative to connect local technology firms with government services. In June, Mayor Lurie teamed up with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and other tech leaders to form the Partnership for San Francisco. The group promotes responsible innovation while improving public systems.
As other cities consider how to adopt AI, San Francisco’s approach may offer a useful model. By focusing on training, transparency, and clear guidelines, the city hopes to demonstrate how governments can adopt new tools without losing public trust.
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