"Sanford used extensive public records of ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot logs from city employees to show, among other things, the city of Bellingham's draft AI policy was written with the help of ChatGPT. I get excited when I see an intriguing use of FOIA to demystify local government. And leading Poynter's AI work, you can imagine how I geeked out when I saw Sanford's investigations. Here is how they start:"
"When the Lummi Nation applied for funding to hire a crime victims coordinator last year, Bellingham Mayor Kim Lund sent a letter encouraging the Washington Department of Commerce to award the nation a state grant. "The Lummi Nation has a strong history of community leadership and a deep commitment to the well-being of its members," the letter read. "The addition of a Coordinator will enhance the Lummi Nation's capacity to address violence and support victims in a meaningful and culturally appropriate manner.""
Public records and logs reveal city employees used ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot for official tasks, including drafting a mayoral letter supporting a grant application for the Lummi Nation. The mayor's assistant prompted ChatGPT to include facts about violence in Native communities and used the chatbot's draft for the letter. Records show a city's draft AI policy was written with the help of ChatGPT. A Twitter AI porn spambot targeted a state senator and was suspended after the mayor reported the account. Generative AI is quietly integrating into local government operations and policy formation.
Read at Poynter
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