The Future in Context By cover art

The Future in Context

By: e.Republic Editorial
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  • Summary

  • TFIC takes you deeper into the stories that are shaping our future. Seeing around corners or making sense of the collision of technology and society is hard. Context can help. Our writers and editors probe important questions about where we are going by first asking about where we have been and why. The show is produced through the joint editorial resources of Governing and Government Technology.
    e.Republic LLC, dba Government Technology and Governing. All rights reserved.
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Episodes
  • Reimagining the Future of Public-Sector IT

    Reimagining the Future of Public-Sector IT
    May 3 2024
    With a crowd of more than 900 people, the NASCIO Midyear Conference buzzed with energy about generative artificial intelligence, along with concern that humans remain in charge. Generative AI can fill a room. The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) Midyear Conference attracted some 938 registered attendees. And that’s for a membership organization that represents 50 appointed tech officials. Not surprisingly, AI dominated the agenda — but not to the exclusion of longstanding NASCIO priorities of cybersecurity, workforce development, business transformation and data literacy.Government Technology was on the ground for the event in National Harbor, Md., led by Executive Editor Noelle Knell, Managing Editor Lauren Kinkade and Senior Staff Writer Thad Rueter. The trio joined the podcast to recap the full scope of the conference. Show Notes AI’s Accelerating Role: The rapid rise of generative AI to production-level implementation is surprising state tech leaders, prompting important policy and practice discussions about how best to integrate the technology in ethical decision-making and service delivery.Data Literacy Imperative: Minnesota and Texas have pioneered innovative approaches to data literacy, which they see as fundamental to the future of state IT programs.Cybersecurity Challenges: AI compounds cybersecurity challenges for states, while giving the public-sector IT community powerful new tools in combatting bad actors. Long a priority for NASCIO, state-level defenses against cyber threats have been aided by federal support and collaboration.Future of Trusted Collaboration: NASCIO’s newly updated strategic plan emphasizes “trusted collaboration” as pivotal in navigating complex partnerships among public-, private- and civic- sector players.AI and Workforce Development: The intersection of AI and workforce development puts a premium on attracting younger tech professionals to government by showcasing AI’s potential impact in public service and the opportunities for skill development.Privacy and AI Ethics: State officials highlight the importance of addressing privacy concerns and ethical considerations in AI implementation, emphasizing compliance with record series laws and the imperative of building trust among citizens regarding AI use cases. Links to stories related to this episode: Is Your State Data Literate? We Asked CIOs The Answer to Ransomware? ‘Doubling Down on the Fundamentals’ NASCIO Speakers Pepper Their AI Optimism With Warnings Nevada Harnesses GenAI for Employment Claims Evaluation SLCGP Money Goes to Training, Assessments, Policy Development Our editors used ChatGPT 4.0 to summarize the episode in bullet form to help create the show notes. The main image for this story was created using DALL-E 3. Subscribe to TFIC for free on YouTube or the podcast app of your choice — Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audacy and Audible.
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    15 mins
  • AI as a Stress Test for Government Data

    AI as a Stress Test for Government Data
    Apr 18 2024
    The rise of generative artificial intelligence is a stress test for data governance and management. And an opportunity for data stewards to shine. When Neil Cooke became the Chief Data Officer at the Texas Department of Information Resources in 2022, generative artificial intelligence (GenA) was not on the horizon. The role was focused on data governance and collaborating with state agencies in overseeing the shared open data portal. It is tempting — and a little clickbaity — to say GenAI changed all that. But that would be factually incorrect. In fact, all the behind-the-scenes work on data management and governance has gone a long way toward preparing the state to meet the challenges — and take advantage of the opportunities — of AI.Cooke talked about data disciplines as a precursor to the effective use of artificial intelligence on our occasional series, Government A to Z, with TFIC co-host and Government Technology Staff Writer Ashley Silver along with two colleagues from Governing — Staff Writer Zina Hutton and Digital Editor Zoe Manzanetti. Show NotesHere are the top 3 takeaways from this episode: An Evolving Strategic Role: Chief Data Officers (CDOs) and data management officers play pivotal roles in navigating government challenges by overseeing data governance practices and promoting collaboration across agencies.Their responsibilities include breaking down data silos, ensuring data quality, and fostering a culture where data is valued and managed effectively. AI’s Transformative Potential: Artificial Intelligence (AI) emerges as a transformative tool in addressing governmental challenges, offering opportunities for automation, enhanced decision-making, and predictive analytics.However, the effectiveness of AI models heavily relies on the quality and security of the data they’re trained on, emphasizing the importance of robust data governance frameworks. Collaborative Approach: Collaboration between government entities, AI advisory councils, and technology experts is essential for responsible AI development and effective data governance.Initiatives such as data literacy programs and AI user groups facilitate knowledge sharing and best practices dissemination, fostering a collaborative environment for addressing governmental challenges. Related Links to stories related to this episode: Texas DIR Appoints Neil Cooke to Lead State Data Initiatives Agency's New State Chief Data Officer to Oversee Open-Data Portal Our editors used ChatGPT 4.0 to summarize the episode in bullet form to help create the show notes. The main image for this story was created using DALL-E 3. Subscribe to The Future In Context for free on YouTube or the podcast app of your choice — Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audacy and Audible.
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    25 mins
  • Resisting the Campaign for Safer Streets

    Resisting the Campaign for Safer Streets
    Apr 11 2024
    Reducing traffic deaths is a compelling proposition, but it gets complicated when trying to make it so. Reduced enforcement of traffic laws, increased rates of driver impairment, cellphone distractions and street designs that prioritize speed have helped reverse long-standing traffic safety gains in American cities.Programs like Vision Zero, aimed at eliminating traffic deaths, face challenges in implementation and efficacy, though success stories like Hoboken, N.J., offer hope. Federal initiatives such as Safe Streets and Roads for All provide substantial funding opportunities for cities to enhance street safety. However, administrative barriers may hinder smaller municipalities from accessing these resources.In TFIC’s occasional series, Your Mileage May Vary, and Senior Writer Jared Brey (Governing) and Senior Writer Skip Descant (Government Technology*) explore how controversies around street design interventions — so-called traffic calming — like bike lanes and curb extensions highlight the challenges of balancing various transportation needs and navigating public perceptions. Technology plays a crucial role in supporting infrastructure improvements, from speed monitoring to data-driven safety assessments. In the aftermath of the Baltimore bridge collapse, the daunting task of rebuilding underscores the importance of robust infrastructure planning and response mechanisms. SHOW NOTES Here are the top 5 takeaways from this episode: Traffic Safety Trends: Despite long-term declines in traffic fatalities, American cities have experienced a concerning uptick in traffic-related deaths and collisions, particularly during the pandemic, attributed to factors like reduced enforcement and increased impairment.Challenges of Vision Zero: While programs like Vision Zero aim to eliminate traffic deaths, implementation faces hurdles, with mixed success in cities like San Francisco. Strategies include redesigning streets for safety and setting ambitious goals, but efficacy varies across contexts.Federal Funding Opportunities: Federal initiatives such as Safe Streets and Roads for All offer substantial funding to enhance street safety, but smaller municipalities may face administrative challenges in accessing these resources, highlighting the need for capacity-building support.Controversies in Street Design: Controversies around street interventions like bike lanes and curb extensions underscore the challenges of balancing diverse transportation needs and navigating public perceptions, with technology playing a crucial role in supporting infrastructure improvements.Lessons from Infrastructure Failures: Infrastructure failures like the Baltimore bridge collapse highlight the importance of robust planning and response mechanisms, underscoring the daunting task of rebuilding and its potential impacts on regional and global trade. Related Links to stories referenced in the episode: How Hoboken Has Gone Years Without a Traffic Death Pedestrian Fatalities Reach Record High Our editors used ChatGPT 4.0 to summarize the episode in bullet form to help create the show notes. The main image for this story was created using DALL-E 3. Subscribe for free on YouTube or the podcast app of your choice — Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audacy and Audible.
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    28 mins
World Political Science
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