Welcome back to The Edge, CogAbility's monthly AI briefing for state and local government innovators.
Ready to see how governments across the nation are using AI?
Let’s dive in!
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🔥 What’s In This Issue
- Local wins: permits, courts, records, and 311 get faster with AI.
- States step up: training, governance, and service delivery move from pilots to scale.
- Best practices: procurement playbooks, risk frameworks, and ROI checklists to copy-paste.
- Tools to try: secure copilots, workflow AI, and smarter records search—already working in the field.
- Policy watch: new bills, guidance, and guardrails shaping how agencies adopt AI.
🚀 Local Innovators
- Grand Traverse County, Mich., Eyes M365 Copilot Expansion
GovTech reports how Grand Traverse County is expanding Microsoft Copilot to improve efficiency and staff productivity. - Baltimore Launches AI Computer Lab for Youth and Seniors
The city opens a dedicated AI learning lab to expand digital literacy for underserved residents. - Denver CIO’s Role Expanded to Chief AI & Information Officer
Denver elevates its CIO, Suma Nallapati, to CAIO to coordinate AI deployment and governance citywide. - Las Vegas Expands AI Gun Detection on Transit System
Southern Nevada’s transit authority rolls out AI-powered gun detection across regional transit hubs. - Charlotte County, FL, Deploys AI Chatbot for Customer Service
Charlotte County launches a generative AI chatbot to handle routine citizen service requests online.
🏛️ State Innovators
- New York Launches Hands-On AI Pilot for State Employees
A pilot program trains 1,000 state workers on responsible AI use through real-world projects and data governance exercises. - GSA Launches Second Phase of FedRAMP 20x Backed by OMB
Automation within the FedRAMP 20x initiative is accelerating state and local approval for secure cloud AI services. - California Education Department Launches AI Workgroup
California’s Department of Education forms a working group to guide responsible classroom AI usage. - Labor Department Pilots AI Intake for Unemployment Claims
A new federal-state pilot tests AI to streamline unemployment claims and identify fraud faster. - Microsoft Expands AI Access in Washington State Schools
Microsoft’s Elevate Washington initiative broadens classroom access to AI-powered learning tools statewide.
📚 Insights & Best Practices
- Ohio Schools Turn to E-Procurement Amid Budget Cuts
AI-enabled e-procurement platforms help Ohio schools cut costs and streamline purchasing workflows. - North Carolina Establishes AI Framework for Public Sector Use
North Carolina unveils an AI governance model for transparency and data ethics across state agencies. - Drive AI Success With a Modernized Data Infrastructure
GovLoop outlines how modern data infrastructure is the foundation for scalable government AI programs. - Human Experts Power AI Translation for Rare Languages
AI-assisted translation tools pair human expertise with automation to improve access for underserved communities. - Four Steps for Successful Generative AI Governance
A concise roadmap for balancing innovation with transparency, risk management, and workforce engagement.
🦄 Tools, Apps and New Features
- Salesforce Launches Missionforce for Government Customers
Salesforce unveils its Missionforce division to deliver secure AI solutions for government and defense clients. - Wooclap Launches 5 AI Tools Co-Designed by Educators
The education platform’s new AI tools boost engagement through automated question generation and interactive learning. - Schools Play Role as ChatGPT Adds Parental Controls
OpenAI’s new features prompt schools to help parents teach safe, ethical AI use among students. - OPM Adds OpenAI to Employees’ Computers
The Office of Personnel Management integrates ChatGPT and Copilot into its internal toolset for productivity and compliance. - ServiceNow and GSA Strike OneGov Deal to Expand AI Adoption
The OneGov agreement provides deep discounts on AI automation tools to accelerate agency modernization.
📄 AI Policy & Legislation
- California Gov. Newsom Signs Landmark AI Law SB 53
The new law mandates AI developer transparency and reporting requirements on safety testing and incidents. - Five States Step Up K-12 Cybersecurity Legislation
A new wave of state bills expands cyber oversight, mandates training, and funds AI-based network monitoring in schools. - Nonprofit Sues 4 Agencies Over AI Use in Policy Enforcement
Democracy Forward sues four federal agencies for lack of transparency in AI used to enforce prior regulations. - Military AI Needs Guardrails—Not to Slow It Down, But Keep It Useful
Former DOD officials argue for responsible AI policies that maintain speed without compromising oversight. - Pentagon Releases AI Safety Mandate for Defense Contractors
The DOD unveils new guidelines requiring defense vendors to certify AI testing, bias prevention, and human oversight.
🆕 What’s New At CogAbility: Buddy!
This month, we’re excited to highlight the revolutionary work that one of our customers, Build A Brain, is doing to help new parents prepare their baby’s brain for life.
🧠 Buddy: The AI Parent Companion for Healthier Brains
Buddy, built and supported by CogAbility, is an AI-powered “Parent Companion” helping families boost early brain development during their child’s first three years — when 85% of brain growth occurs.
How Buddy Works:
New parents are sleep deprived, overworked, and often struggle to find trusted & timely guidance between pediatric visits.
Buddy bridges that gap with personalized, evidence-based advice, local referrals, and instant answers — delivered through a secure & anonymous AI chat agent on their smartphone.
Powered by CogUniversity, Buddy’s behavior is controlled by local healthcare providers and community experts, ensuring guidance aligns with regional programs, early-intervention services, and public health initiatives.
Unlike other chatbots, Buddy does not hallucinate and adapts to each parent’s needs — offering vetted resources, interactive check-ins, and AI-generated responses that stay within clinical best practices.
Outcomes That Matter (To All of Us):
Delivering critical advice and resources when young parents need it most naturally results in more confident parents, more productive pediatric visits, and earlier detection of developmental delays.
Communities & local healthcare providers also gain stronger family support networks, measurable engagement data, and better child-health outcomes — all without adding clinical workload.
By combining the latest GenAI, trusted local partnerships, and real-world outcomes, Buddy helps every community achieve what matters most: Better brains, better families, and brighter futures.
🔗 Learn more about Buddy on Build A Brain’s YouTube channel
📩 Interested in adding Buddy to your community? Contact Build A Brain today
💪 How Can AI Empower Your Team?
Our recently-updated CogUniversity Course Catalog describes the many AI-powered jobs CogBots are doing today for government agencies throughout the US.
(Discounts apply for existing customers and multi-course purchases.)
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