Artificial intelligence (AI) is popping up across local government in surprising ways. Customer service desks are testing translation tools, clerks’ offices are using Large Language Models (LLMs) to summarize documents and planning and public works teams are using predictive analytics to conduct asset assessments. Together, these developments raise a basic organizational question for city governments: Who, if anyone, is responsible for overseeing AI as it cuts across departments, data systems and workforce practices?
In response to a growing need for coordination, a small but growing number of cities are creating dedicated AI leadership roles, sometimes called Chief AI Officers.
At the state and federal level, chief AI officers have become more common in recent years. Locally, adoption has been slower and more varied. Some cities have created formal executive positions while others have folded AI oversight into existing IT or data roles. Others have relied on temporary fellowships and working groups.
Designating an AI lead is one approach cities are adopting to improve the conditions for innovation in local government. In general, chief AI officers are tasked with assessing data architecture, setting governance frameworks and overseeing the deployment and evaluation of new pilot projects.
Early Examples from Seattle and Louisville
In late 2025, Seattle and Louisville became two of the first U.S. cities to appoint executive-level AI leaders.
Seattle, Wash. appointed Lisa Qian as its first City AI Officer. The role sits within the city’s Information Technology Department and is tasked with overseeing AI governance, technical architecture, workforce training and coordination across departments. City leaders said the position will provide clearer standards, objectives and accountability as AI use expands across public services, rather than as a push for rapid deployment. Seattle has been a leader in the AI space as one of the first cities to formalize a Generative AI Policy (PDF) in 2023, and adopted a comprehensive AI plan (PDF).
Louisville, Ky. took a similar step in December 2025, naming Pamela McKnight as its first Chief AI Officer and establishing an enterprise-wide role to coordinate AI-related work across city departments in collaboration with existing IT leadership. Like Seattle, Louisville recruited from the private sector, seeking a candidate with experience leading large-scale AI upskilling and governance efforts. Shortly after appointing a Chief AI Officer, the city announced its first AI pilot project, focused on the permitting and development review process. This project will test whether AI tools can help identify bottlenecks and reduce delays using the city’s existing codes and data. City officials have described the effort as a limited, time-bound pilot, with findings expected to be shared publicly once the project concludes.
Considerations for City Leaders
Most cities have not appointed dedicated AI leads but remain focused on foundational work such as developing AI use policies, improving data governance and building basic AI literacy among staff.
Before appointing an AI lead, city leaders may find it helpful to consider:
- What problem is the city trying to solve by creating an AI leadership role? Coordination, governance, capacity or something else?
- How would an AI lead fit within the city’s existing leadership structure and decision-making processes?
- What guardrails or policies are needed to ensure AI use aligns with the city’s values, priorities and public trust obligations?
Next Steps for City Leaders
- Explore AI policies in the City AI Governance Dashboard.
- Unpack AI applications, ethics and governance in the NLC AI Toolkit.
About the Author
Executive Actions Fact Sheet: Accelerating Federal Permitting of Data Center Infrastructure
City Summit 2025: Creating Opportunity in Uncertainty
What’s on the 2026 Horizon for NLC’s Federal Advocacy
- Archana Sridhar
Understanding Technical Assistance at NLC
- Seth Eli Barlow
NLC Wrapped: Top Resources of 2025
- Jeremy Grossman
Data Centers Are Coming: Are You Prepared?
- NLC Partnerships