Boston, August 20, 2025
News Summary
Municipalities across the U.S., including Boston and Tempe, are crafting local AI guidelines for public employees to enhance efficiency while addressing concerns like privacy and accountability. These policies aim to define allowed AI uses, ensuring responsible implementation and protecting sensitive data. As federal regulations are still pending, cities are taking the initiative to experiment with AI technologies, fostering accountability and ethical standards in local governance.
Boston — Cities across the United States are issuing local guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence by public employees as federal regulation remains under consideration. Municipalities are balancing the potential gains in efficiency and service delivery with concerns about accuracy, privacy, security and intellectual property by creating rules that enable responsible experimentation and set clear boundaries for public-sector AI use.
Top lines: Local rules fill a federal gap
Municipal governments, led by early adopters such as Boston, Tempe, Arizona, and Lebanon, New Hampshire, have published or are developing AI policies that outline permitted uses, prohibited actions and employee responsibilities. These local policies aim to allow staff to use AI tools for everyday tasks while protecting sensitive data and preserving accountability. In many cities, officials report regular employee use of AI for drafting communications and analyzing data, and note measurable cost savings from AI-assisted work.
What the policies require and restrict
City guidelines commonly include clear lists of allowable activities, explicit prohibitions and governance principles. Typical allowances include using AI to draft routine communications, summarize documents and support non-decision-making research. Typical restrictions include prohibiting AI use with confidential or legally protected personal information and barring automated AI decisions in critical areas such as hiring.
Guidelines emphasize accountability, transparency and ethical engagement, instructing employees to disclose when AI has been used, to verify AI outputs, and to avoid presenting AI-generated content as uncontested fact. Municipal policies also address data handling, aiming to prevent unauthorized disclosure and to maintain privacy protections.
City examples and approaches
Boston released one of the first municipal guidelines for generative AI in government work in May 2023. Its framework sets out the purpose and principles for responsible use, provides practical “dos” and “do nots,” and promotes controlled experimentation by city staff rather than outright prohibition. The city’s approach highlights principles including empowerment, inclusion, respect, innovation and privacy protection, and calls for managing risks while leveraging AI.
Tempe followed with its own policy about a month later, taking a human-centered stance that clarifies departmental responsibilities and employee expectations for AI use. Tempe officials report substantial monthly AI interactions across a range of applications, using tools such as conversational AI platforms and partnerships with specialized AI vendors to support operations.
The City of Lebanon has adopted guidelines designed to be adaptable as state and federal rules evolve. This flexibility reflects municipalities’ recognition that AI technology and legal frameworks are changing rapidly and that local policies must be updated over time.
Why municipalities are moving first
Local governments are motivated by operational benefits—improving efficiency, reducing costs and enhancing communication with residents—while also seeking to reduce harms from misuse. Cities report employees are already using AI weekly for tasks including drafting messages and performing data analysis, which has in some cases led to reduced project costs. By developing guardrails now, municipal leaders hope to protect constituents and create tested models that could inform higher-level regulations.
Challenges and next steps
Policy-makers face the challenge of keeping rules current amid rapid AI development. Ongoing updates, employee training, cross-jurisdictional coordination and mechanisms for reporting misuse are repeatedly cited as necessary components of durable governance. There is also interest in sharing lessons and aligning standards so that local experiments can inform state and federal approaches.
Implications for public services
If the trend continues, widespread municipal adoption of AI governance frameworks may reshape public-sector operations—improving access to services, promoting inclusivity, and addressing historical inequities if implemented with equity and privacy safeguards. At the same time, officials caution that robust oversight will be required to ensure AI tools are used to augment, not replace, human judgment in critical decisions.
FAQ
What do municipal AI guidelines typically cover?
Guidelines usually define allowed and prohibited uses, employee responsibilities, data privacy rules, verification requirements for AI outputs, and procedures for documenting AI use. They also set ethical principles and specify when AI should not be used.
Why are cities creating their own AI policies?
Cities are creating policies to manage immediate operational use, protect sensitive information, mitigate risks, and capitalize on efficiency gains while federal regulation remains pending. Local rules allow for controlled experimentation and faster adaptation to local needs.
Which tasks are commonly supported by AI in municipal settings?
Common uses include drafting and editing communications, summarizing documents, supporting data analysis, improving internal workflows and assisting public-facing information services. Policies generally discourage sole reliance on AI for high-stakes or legally binding decisions.
When should AI not be used by public workers?
AI should not be used for processing confidential or legally protected personal data, making critical hiring or disciplinary decisions, or taking actions where human oversight and accountability are required. Policies list specific exclusions based on local risk assessments.
How will these policies change over time?
Municipal guidelines are expected to be iterative, with regular reviews and updates to reflect technological advances, legal developments and lessons learned from practical use. Cities plan to incorporate training, monitoring and intergovernmental coordination into policy updates.
Quick reference table: Municipal AI policy highlights
| City | Policy timing | Core principles | Common allowed uses | Key restrictions | Tools / notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | May 2023 | Empowerment, inclusion, respect, innovation, privacy protection | Drafting communications, data summaries, internal analysis | No use with confidential data; human oversight required | Guidelines include dos and do nots; supports controlled experimentation |
| Tempe, AZ | June 2023 (approx.) | Human-centered, responsibility, transparency | Operational tasks, citizen services, data support | No critical hiring decisions via AI; verify outputs | High monthly interaction volume; uses ChatGPT and vendor partnerships |
| Lebanon, NH | Guidelines under development / adaptable | Flexibility to align with state rules, privacy focus | Administrative support, limited public engagement tools | Adaptable exclusions depending on state law | Designed to be updated as regulations evolve |
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Additional Resources
- Axios: Boston Bloomberg Alliance on AI
- Boston Globe: AI Governance and Regulation
- Sentinel & Enterprise: AI Use Among Legislators
- NBC Boston: Hingham Parents Sue Over AI Use Punishment
- Wired: Boston’s Generative AI Policy
- Wikipedia: Artificial Intelligence
- Google Search: AI Regulations
- Google Scholar: AI Policy
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Artificial Intelligence
- Google News: AI Government Guidelines
Author: STAFF HERE BOSTON WRITER
BOSTON STAFF WRITER The BOSTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBoston.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Boston, Suffolk County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Boston Marathon, Head of the Charles Regatta, and Boston Harborfest. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Massachusetts, plus leading businesses in finance, biotech, and insurance that power the local economy such as Fidelity Investments, Biogen, and Liberty Mutual Insurance. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Massachusetts's dynamic landscape.
