Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Adopting AI in Local Government with Privacy and Equity in Mind: A Case Study of the City of Oakland
Vinal Dalcy Dsouza and Rebecca Williams Earle, Northeastern University
We are partnering with the City of Oakland to understand how AI can safely support city workflows and processes. Federal cuts are increasing the strain on local governments, which must meet community needs with fewer resources. Artificial intelligence is often proposed as a solution, but local governments can be wary due to privacy and equity concerns. Oakland is piloting Microsoft Copilot, and we are measuring participant experiences and perceptions throughout the study through interviews and surveys with a sample of participants from a variety of city departments. We will share snapshots of participant perceptions of AI and privacy from multiple touchpoints during this 6 month study. We will also discuss how privacy and equity concerns, including public record requests, disparities in AI access, and fears of skill atrophy, shaped and in some cases, limited participant engagement with AI.
Authors: Shufan Chai, Vinal Dalcy Dsouza, Rebecca Williams Earle, Rasika Bhalerao and Jessica Staddon
View the full PEPR '26 program at usenix.org/conference/pepr26/program
Adopting AI in Local Government with Privacy and Equity in Mind: A Case Study of the City of Oakland
Vinal Dalcy Dsouza and Rebecca Williams Earle, Northeastern University
We are partnering with the City of Oakland to understand how AI can safely support city workflows and processes. Federal cuts are increasing the strain on local governments, which must meet community needs with fewer resources. Artificial intelligence is often proposed as a solution, but local governments can be wary due to privacy and equity concerns. Oakland is piloting Microsoft Copilot, and we are measuring participant experiences and perceptions throughout the study through interviews and surveys with a sample of participants from a variety of city departments. We will share snapshots of participant perceptions of AI and privacy from multiple touchpoints during this 6 month study. We will also discuss how privacy and equity concerns, including public record requests, disparities in AI access, and fears of skill atrophy, shaped and in some cases, limited participant engagement with AI.
Authors: Shufan Chai, Vinal Dalcy Dsouza, Rebecca Williams Earle, Rasika Bhalerao and Jessica Staddon
View the full PEPR '26 program at usenix.org/conference/pepr26/program
