General News
12 June, 2024
AI policy adopted by council
Yarriambiack Shire Council has become one of the few local councils to have adopted an Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy, allowing the use of AI software by staff, contractors and councillors.
Yarriambiack Shire Council has become one of the few local councils to have adopted an Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy, allowing the use of AI software by staff, contractors and councillors.
"It's the way the future is heading and this is the next step for us," Yarriambiack Council mayor Cr Kylie Zanker said.
"We all use some sort of AI now, whether it's Grammarly or spellcheck."
The policy addresses the use of AI tools that embrace the potentially positive aspects of the technology, while ensuring its use aligns with council’s legal, ethical and community standards.
Councillors said it was important for them to have a proactive policy that shaped how staff, contractors and councillors used AI, and that it was adaptable so that it could be used to assess future uses they might not anticipate.
The policy uses guidance from the Australian Government's Digital Transformation Agency to inform its content, and is adapted to the specific needs of council.
The use of AI platforms in council is primarily for low-risk situations such as brainstorming ideas and initial drafting of content, emails and reports.
Yarriambiack Shire Council has chosen Microsoft Copilot as its AI software as it sits within its existing Microsoft program.
"It ensures that the information is secure, confidential and contained to our organisation," Cr Zanker said.
AI also will be used for out-of-hours customer service through their website to answer basic questions.