AI for Community Engagement and Policy Development: Local Councils Shaping the Future of Public Involvement

1.Sentiment Analysis and Public Opinion Monitoring Example: Wellington City Council has adopted sentiment analysis tools to monitor public opinion on social media platforms and news outlets. By analysing keywords and sentiment in real-time, these AI systems help the council understand how residents feel about local issues, upcoming policies, and council projects. This enables the council to respond proactively to emerging concerns and engage with the public in a more meaningful way.

• Governance Considerations: Councils using sentiment analysis must navigate privacy concerns and data ethics. Governance frameworks should ensure that data from public domains is used responsibly, respecting individuals’ right to privacy. Additionally, councils should communicate openly about how data is collected and used, fostering public trust in AI-driven sentiment analysis.

2. Automated Feedback Collection and Analysis Example: Christchurch City Council utilises AI to streamline feedback collection from residents on new initiatives and policies (Smart Christchurch Strategy). Through AI-driven surveys and forms, the council collects insights more efficiently, allowing for faster data processing and analysis. By using natural language processing, AI can summarise key points and sentiment from large volumes of feedback, making it easier to incorporate public opinion into decision-making.

• Governance Considerations: Ensuring inclusivity in feedback collection is critical. Councils should design surveys and feedback systems that are accessible to all demographics, including underserved populations. Additionally, data should be anonymised to protect residents’ privacy, and feedback summaries should be reviewed by council members to avoid over-reliance on AI interpretations.

3. AI and Smart City Initiatives through Hamilton’s Smart Hamilton Programme

Example: Hamilton City Council has implemented several AI-driven projects under its Smart Hamilton programme, focused on improving urban mobility, traffic management, and community engagement:

o??? Traffic Machine Learning: Partnering with Aware Group, Hamilton City Council has trialed AI technologies for real-time vehicle classification and counting. This initiative aims to enhance traffic management capabilities by providing more accurate traffic data, supporting better decision-making for congestion reduction and infrastructure planning.

o??? AI Chatbot for Community Engagement: Collaborating with BECA, the council introduced "Frankly," an AI-powered chatbot on their website to gather feedback on the draft Long-Term Plan. This conversational agent allows residents to express their views, helping the council gauge public sentiment and engage more directly with community needs.

o??? Transport Data Analytics Platform (TDAP): Co-developed with Aware Group, this platform consolidates real-time transport data from multiple sources into a central dashboard. The system identifies abnormal traffic patterns and issues instant alerts to traffic operators, allowing for proactive traffic management.

o??? Aware AI? for Pathways: Developed with Aware Group and Opito, this computer vision-based solution tracks and classifies micromobility traffic such as pedestrians, bicycles, and scooters. It provides valuable insights for urban planning, supporting Hamilton's efforts to improve safety and accessibility for all road users.

• Governance Considerations: Smart city initiatives require a balanced approach to data privacy, transparency, and inclusivity. Hamilton City Council must establish strong data governance protocols, including data anonymization and secure data storage for AI traffic systems. Regular audits and community engagement through transparent updates on the programme’s outcomes are essential to build public trust and ensure responsible AI use in urban development.

4. Facilitating Community Dialogues on Policy Example: Dunedin City Council has piloted an AI-assisted platform that enables residents to submit comments and engage in discussions on policy proposals. AI helps moderate and organise comments, ensuring that discussions remain constructive and relevant. The platform also uses AI to summarise key themes and concerns, providing council members with an overview of community sentiment.

• Governance Considerations: Moderation in AI-assisted platforms introduces ethical considerations, particularly around freedom of speech and censorship. Councils should establish transparent policies on AI moderation, including mechanisms for users to report errors or appeal moderation decisions. Ensuring that AI systems do not unfairly restrict certain views is essential for maintaining an open and respectful public discourse.

Governance Considerations: Upholding Trust, Transparency, and Inclusivity

Using AI for community engagement and policy development necessitates a governance framework that prioritises ethical and inclusive practices. Key governance considerations for councils include:

• Transparency and Public Communication Councils should inform residents about AI’s role in community engagement, including how data is collected, used, and protected. Proactive communication fosters trust and demonstrates a commitment to responsible AI usage.
• Equity and Representation AI-driven engagement tools should be designed to represent the entire community fairly, not just those who are most active or vocal. Councils should strive for inclusivity by providing alternative engagement channels and encouraging participation from all community segments.
• Data Privacy and Consent Community engagement often involves the collection of personal data, requiring strict adherence to data privacy laws. Councils should be transparent about data retention policies, ensure anonymisation where possible, and obtain consent when collecting data from residents.
• Accountability and Human Oversight While AI can provide valuable insights, human oversight is essential to interpret findings fairly and ensure AI-driven recommendations align with community values. Councils should define roles for reviewing AI-generated insights and establish accountability measures to uphold ethical standards.

Conclusion

AI has the potential to revolutionise community engagement and policy development for local councils, enabling a more responsive, data-driven approach to understanding resident needs and fostering public involvement. However, councils must implement strong governance measures to ensure transparency, equity, and accountability. By addressing these considerations, councils can build a foundation of trust and inclusivity, using AI to support meaningful engagement and well-informed policy-making.

References

• Davies, M., & Jackson, E. (2021). Artificial intelligence and public engagement: Lessons for local governance. Public Administration Review, 82(1), 123-135. https://doi.org/10.1111/puar.13411
• Taylor, R., & Alston, B. (2022). The role of AI in promoting inclusive community engagement: Perspectives from New Zealand. Urban Studies, 59(4), 789-803. https://doi.org/10.1080/00420987.2021.1924899
• Parker, D., & Schmidt, L. (2023). Data ethics in AI-assisted public engagement platforms. Journal of Digital Ethics in Governance, 14(2), 207-220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdegov.2023.04.001