Dive Brief:
- San José, California, last week hosted its first free AI workshops for residents at the city’s AI Center for Civic and Social Good, a first-of-its-kind public education center focused on expanding AI access.
- The workshops are part of the city’s AI for All initiative, backed by the Bay Area Council business association, OpenAI, Google and Anthropic, to offer AI tools and education through the San José Public Library.
- The initiative follows the launch of an AI upskilling program the city launched to train city staff to use AI “responsibly and effectively,” according to San José Mayor Matt Mahan. “AI is reshaping how we live and work, and San José is making sure every resident benefits,” Mahan said in a news release.
Dive Insight:
San José is incorporating AI into a range of local government operations, including efforts to improve road safety and streamline housing permitting.
After adding AI to its traffic signal prioritization, the city reported earlier this year it had increased transit bus speeds by 20%.
San José’s free workshops aim to give residents “the tools, training, and confidence to succeed in the AI era,” Mahan said. The first workshops on April 8 focused on how seniors can use AI in their everyday lives and how job seekers can use AI for job applications.
“AI can save people time and make everyday tasks easier, but only if people know how to use it,” Mattie Zazueta, who works in OpenAI’s global affairs department, said in a statement. “Expanding AI literacy is one of the most important things we can do to make sure the benefits are broadly shared. The AI for All initiative is a strong model for how cities can lead by giving residents access to the tools and the training to use them.”
