Book by Alan Shark: “…The book is organized into five parts that trace the arc of AI’s arrival and maturation in public service. Part I covers the Foundations — what AI actually is, the five questions every administrator must ask before adopting it, how it functions as a thought processor, and what emotional intelligence in machines means for human governance. Part II turns to Governance and Accountability: auditing AI, the risks of agentive AI in local government, cybersecurity challenges, and the emerging problem of “AI fatigue” — the real exhaustion that sets in when the pace of change outstrips an organization’s capacity to adapt.
Part III examines Organizational Leadership — the impact of AI on public procurement, the emerging role of the Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer at the state and local level, and the “tribes and tribulations” that arise when new technologies threaten existing power structures. Part IV digs into Policy, Regulation, and Implementation: generative AI’s expanding role in search, the debate between guardrails versus guiderails, shadow AI in government agencies, workforce displacement fears, and responsible AI piloting. Finally, Part V addresses Sustainability and Emerging Challenges — AI’s enormous energy demands, the growing power of voice interfaces, rising costs, workforce readiness, AI in public education, and the accountability gaps that state and federal preemption laws can create…(More)”.
