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Today, supervisors unanimously passed a resolution to encourage the implementation of AI into county processes. Public feedback was mixed.
The Shasta County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a resolution today aimed at integrating artificial intelligence into county departments. Sponsored by District 4 Supervisor Matt Plummer and informed by Chief Information Officer Thomas Schreiber, the initiative seeks to enhance efficiency and reduce costs. The decision followed a contentious discussion involving metaphors ranging from 'soldiers on the front lines' to the 'biblical beast' and garnered mixed feedback from both supervisors and the public. The resolution marks a significant step towards formalizing AI use, building on previous discussions to incorporate expert input and address initial concerns.
Supervisor Plummer reiterated that the resolution's primary goal is to leverage AI to combat employee shortages and financial pressures, explicitly stating that AI would augment rather than replace human staff. He stressed the importance of maintaining human oversight and implementing robust safeguards. CIO Schreiber reinforced this perspective, framing AI as a 'tool' to solve departmental problems, akin to other software solutions. In response to District 2 Supervisor Allen Long's concerns about data security, Schreiber assured the board that the AI implementation would involve contracted vendors providing secure, containerized platforms, with specific 'parameters and terms within the agreement' to protect sensitive county data from leakage.
CIO Thomas Schreiber directly addressed and dispelled rumors regarding the construction of a dedicated AI data center by Shasta County, a concern raised by District 5 Supervisor Chris Kelstrom due to public emails. Schreiber firmly stated, 'No, the county is not building their own AI data center.' Both Plummer and Schreiber highlighted the ongoing development of a comprehensive AI policy. This detailed policy will define acceptable and prohibited uses, distinguish between high- and low-risk AI applications, and establish review protocols. Schreiber mentioned using Placer County’s existing AI policy as a template, emphasizing inter-county collaboration among IT departments to establish best practices.
The discussion underscored the contentious nature of AI, with some supervisors and public members expressing profound skepticism. District 3 Supervisor Corkey Harmon voiced caution, comparing reliance on AI to sending 'soldiers out there on the front line, and then get shot,' while a public commenter controversially referred to AI as 'the beast' from the Book of Revelation. Despite these debates, the resolution passed with a 5-0 vote, signaling the county's commitment to further AI integration. Supervisor Plummer anticipates a more detailed AI policy, which will formalize the rules for AI already in use across some county departments, to be completed by the end of the summer.