automation

FCC makes AI-generated voices in robocalls illegal

The move gives states new authority to crack down on AI-generated voice-cloning schemes.

  • By David DiMolfetta

Unwinding the public health emergency: Medicaid agencies should slow down to speed up

COMMENTARY | States that take the time to strategically adjust their staffing, processes and technology could ultimately speed up the Medicaid redetermination process.

  • By Blake Shaw

Expungement backlogs swamp courts

Thousands of new expungement applications are causing months-long backlogs in jurisdictions with manual and paper-based processing. Automation can help.

  • By Stephanie Kanowitz

Addressing the shortage of government accountants: 2 paths to efficiency

COMMENTARY | The dwindling number of qualified, government-savvy accounting professionals makes it imperative municipalities find new efficiencies sooner rather than later.

  • By Brian Camiller and Mike Riffel, Plante Moran

High fees, long waits cast shadow over new criminal expungement laws

A clear record helps people seeking employment, housing and education.

  • By Amanda Hernández, Stateline

Forget dystopian scenarios–AI is pervasive today, and the risks are often hidden

The explosion of generative AI tools like ChatGPT and fears about where the technology might be headed distract from the many ways AI affects people every day—for better and worse.

  • By Anjana Susarla, The Conversation

AI could ease the ‘administrative muck’ delaying SNAP and other benefits

President Biden’s recent executive order specifically called for guidance in the emerging technology’s use in assistance programs. But experts warn that AI isn’t a silver bullet.

  • By Chris Teale

Number of uninsured drivers in one state plummets with new verification system, automatic fines

Arkansas’ enforcement mechanism is one of the strictest in the U.S., constantly checking insurance status in real time. Many other states only check once a month.

  • By Hunter Field, Arkansas Advocate

State CIOs look ahead to a collaborative, automated future

A survey of state technology leaders found that the CIO role has evolved from one concerned with building a state’s own tech infrastructure to one focused on acting as a broker of services. The change comes amid increasing automation, use of AI and cybersecurity challenges.

  • By Chris Teale

Predictive policing software terrible at predicting crimes

A software company sold a New Jersey police department an algorithm that was right less than 1% of the time.

  • By Aaron Sankin and Surya Mattu, The Markup

Why agencies should care about no-code workflow automation

COMMENTARY | When government staff can quickly create their own digital applications, they can improve customer experience and meet operational needs.

  • By Pankaj Taneja

How agency employees can help improve user experience

COMMENTARY | By leveraging nontechnical staff for automated testing, agencies can improve user experience and help residents gain the greatest benefit from digital government services.

  • By Ben Baldi
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In-house tools sped up tax refunds in this county

The Travis County, Texas, Auditor’s Office has reduced the time it takes to process property tax audits by 91%.

  • By Stephanie Kanowitz

State expands streamlined, automated licensing

Wisconsin’s successful migration of its occupational licensing system to the cloud now includes business licenses.

  • By Chris Teale

How will AI affect workers? Tech waves of the past show how unpredictable the path can be

COMMENTARY | New digital technologies have been a constant for workers over the past few decades, with a mixed record on the economy and individuals’ daily lives. AI’s effect will likely be just as unpredictable.

  • By Bhaskar Chakravorti, The Conversation

AI could shore up democracy—Here’s one way

COMMENTARY | Public comment could soon swamp government officials and representatives, thanks to AI, but AI could also help spot compelling stories from constituents.

  • By Bruce Schneier and Nathan Sanders , The Conversation

Automation Risks Creating a Two-Tier Workforce of Haves and Have-Nots

COMMENTARY | As workplaces welcome more automated processes, staff members must adapt to modern skills to thrive in a tech-centric environment.

  • By Siddhartha Bandyopadhyay, The Conversation

How Agencies Can Automate Data Extraction at Scale

COMMENTARY | Data is embedded in formats that are hard to search and process. Think emails, PDFs, spreadsheets, images, driver’s licenses. Here's how to extract that data and improve efficiency, reduce backlogs and solve operational challenges.

  • By Matt Macnak

Officials Say They've Fixed a 'Sorting' Breakdown in Virginia Booze Raffle

The error allowed some entrants to win multiple bottles of rare bourbon despite steep odds. Authorities say they’ve worked to limit the future possibility of human error and Excel mistakes.

  • By Graham Moomaw, Virginia Mercury

State turns to the cloud to manage transportation projects

The Delaware Department of Transportation will track $3 billion in spending over the next five years with a cloud-based capital program management solution.

  • By Chris Teale

County’s integrated platform delivers client-focused social services

With HSD Dynamics, Maricopa County can easily share data with APIs, track metrics and automate manual tasks to ensure residents get the services they need.

  • By Stephanie Kanowitz