Seattle has delayed the citywide implementation of Microsoft Copilot for its employees, following the release of its “responsible AI plan” five months earlier. This decision was made by Mayor Katie Wilson, who paused the rollout initially approved by her predecessor, Bruce Harrell, in December.
According to Megan Erb, a spokesperson for the Seattle Information Technology Department, while the deployment is on hold, the city continues its education and governance initiatives. These efforts include educational roadshows for various departments and advancing foundational work in data governance and readiness.
In September, Seattle's AI plan was launched, incorporating training and establishing frameworks for evaluating AI tool usage within city operations. A pilot test involving 500 employees showed that the technology helped save over 450 hours of work weekly, aiding in tasks like drafting communications and document analysis. Feedback indicated that 83% of users found value in Copilot Chat, with 79% reporting a positive user experience.
Seattle's initiative is notable for being a frontrunner in AI policy, having introduced the country’s first generative AI policy in fall 2023. The city maintains strict oversight regulations, ensuring human review of AI outputs and prohibiting certain applications to address concerns about bias and reliability.