Council receives briefing on municipality’s approach to artificial intelligence

Chatham-Kent council received a briefing Monday on the municipality’s approach to artificial intelligence, outlining a cautious and collaborative strategy for exploring AI tools in municipal operations.

The briefing, presented by Catherine Fitzgerald, director of information technology and transformation, described AI as a tool that recognizes patterns, generates content and supports decisions, while noting that accountability remains with municipal decision-makers and staff.

The presentation highlighted collaboration between Chatham-Kent and other Ontario municipalities through the RSTCAOs AI Subcommittee, which works to reduce duplication and build shared capacity across municipal, provincial and federal levels.

According to the briefing, common learning among Ontario municipalities shows AI is viewed as a strategic enabler, with municipalities moving cautiously through controlled pilots, clear accountability and proactive risk management, while balancing foundational work in data readiness, governance, privacy and cybersecurity against risks such as bias, misinformation and vendor dependency.

The municipality’s Corporate Artificial Intelligence Policy, in effect since April 26, 2025, is intended to enable innovation while protecting public trust, guided by principles of public good, responsible use, safeguards and human accountability.

The briefing also outlined the municipality’s phased approach to controlled Microsoft Copilot pilots, moving from technical foundation work through selected business pilots, evidence-gathering and eventual scale decisions, with expansion occurring only where value, readiness and safeguards are demonstrated.

The presentation concluded that Chatham-Kent is moving deliberately rather than standing still, with a continued focus on governing AI use under existing policy, collaborating with provincial and federal partners, and learning through controlled pilots before broader scaling.