Earlier this year, the Tallahassee City Commission requested an overview detailing how City staff are using Artificial Intelligence (AI). At the September 3rd, 2025, city commission meeting, elected officials received an information update.
The Update
AI is the use of computer technology that learns from data, identifies patterns, and improves its performance over time by analyzing information. With AI becoming increasingly prevalent throughout local government, the City has developed numerous policies that establish a framework for the use of this technology, ensuring it meets City standards.
The City is currently using AI in a few select ways. The primary use is to enhance customer engagement and satisfaction by using generative chat-based support and voice recognition services to assist customers 24/7 or during peak call times when workers are not immediately available. In February, the City established an AI solution that automatically summarizes and identifies a customer’s billing activity, payments over the last 12 months, invoices, and any overdue bills—transitioning a process that would take hours to being instant.
The other primary use of AI focuses on public safety. Beginning in 2023, AI-assisted License Plate Readers converted photos of plates into readable text, leading to the recovery of over 200 stolen vehicles. The Capital Region Real-Time Crime Center has developed an AI-powered firearm detection software that gathers information and enables quicker response times when a weapon is detected. Over the last year, the City’s police and fire departments have used drones equipped with AI, allowing for efficient and accurate responses.
While AI has proven to be applicable, numerous rules and regulations must be implemented to ensure safety. AI can be unpredictable at times due to its ability to absorb information and continually learn and grow. The City has implemented policies that restrict the information AI is given, including access to all confidential data. Employees must oversee AI usage to ensure accuracy and are instructed to report any incidents involving AI to protect City data. Additionally, when disposing of electronic media containing sensitive information, all data must be rendered unreadable. If any information is given to Artificial Intelligence, it must be entirely erased before disposal.
City Staff Details Use of AI in City Operations added by Staff on
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HOW is AI detecting firearms use? Is it with listening stations around the city? What else is it picking up and storing? Is this like the Flock Camera use where we don’t have a public statement about the data retention and usage policies like other cities have? Are the license plates being picked up by Flock? Why don’t they use the product name?
The lack of transparency on what these systems are and what data the collect and store is concerning.
Do we really need to have Tallahassee be a surveillance state?
https://www.yahoo.com/news/those-arent-traffic-cams-flock-045900192.html