Using AI to help local governments connect with constituents

Jigsaw's Sensemaking AI tools assist local governments in gathering and examining community feedback to create better public policy. Funded by Google.org and other philanthropic partners, this initiative is being expanded to support more cities in conducting large-scale civic conversations at no expense. If you are a local official interested in utilizing these tools for your community, you can express your interest in the Jigsaw Partner Program.

Jigsaw developed AI tools to enable local leaders to listen to thousands of residents simultaneously, facilitating cities' understanding of residents' actual needs during decision-making. Numerous cities are currently employing this technology to plan for the future based on genuine community feedback. Google is now aiding more governments worldwide in utilizing these tools to better serve their citizens.

A year ago, Jigsaw, a technology incubator within Google, launched Sensemaking AI: an open-source suite of tools designed to help public leaders implement policies and programs that align with their communities' needs. As part of Google.org's dedication to leveraging AI to enhance public services, the new Jigsaw Partner Program is being supported by a collaborative fund to enable more policymakers to benefit from AI-powered civic conversations, and local government leaders around the world are being called to join this effort.

Through the new Jigsaw Partner Program, localities can employ AI to conduct swift, extensive civic conversations at no operational cost, revealing insights into community needs that can aid in shaping essential services. Cities have already demonstrated positive results: in Bowling Green, Kentucky, input from 8,000 residents guided a 25-year growth plan, with comparable initiatives currently underway in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Riverside, California, Kitchener, Ontario, and more.

Civic leaders have reported that Sensemaking AI enables them to hear from everyone, leading to more informed policy decisions.

Google.org is partnering with leading philanthropic organizations, including Bloomberg Philanthropies and the David & Lucile Packard Foundation, which will contribute to expanding the potential of these tools in municipal contexts. Civic leaders are urged to express their interest in using Sensemaking AI through the Jigsaw Partner Program. Together, the goal is to build a future where hearing from every voice is not just an aspiration but the standard for effective leadership.