How San Diego County Plans to “Safely” Harness Artificial Intelligence:

By Macy Meinhardt, Voice & Viewpoint Staff Writer

San Diego Board of Supervisors voted unanimously June 4 to establish an Artificial Intelligence ad-hoc subcommittee, led by Board Chair Nora Vargas and Supervisor Joel Anderson. 

The decision to establish the committee comes after transformative development in recent years of service technology, specifically in the form of artificial intelligence. As the county moves to “safely” leverage AI to its advantage, members of local unions maintain that county workers must come first in the development of AI in local government. 

“This action aims to harness the power of innovation and cutting edge technologies to enhance county services,” said Supervisor Vargas at the board meeting. 

The subcommittee will address both the opportunities and challenges posed by these technologies, volunteering, ethical AI governance and exploring opportunities with technological advances. 

The request is for the ad-hoc subcommittee to closely analyze artificial intelligence and the impact as it’s implemented into county systems and services. The committee will also evaluate the county’s current Information and Telecommunication Systems, ensuring that it is both “state-of-the-art and secure.”

AI is the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems.

AI has existed within the public domain for a while, but the field is rapidly expanding. Generative AI is the most recent development of this technology which uses data to create new text, images, videos and other media. In just a few months, the platform at the center of this technology, ChatGPT, became one of the most downloaded apps in history. 

As a result of machines now performing tasks that humans typically do, job security is a major concern residents have as it becomes further ingrained in the societal workforce. 

A Forbes Advisor survey shows that in 2023, over 77% of workers in the United States feared future job loss, indicating concern about the potential impact the will have on employment opportunities

“I’m speaking in support of this item, but I’m doing so with deep concern,” said Local Vice President of SEIU Local 221, Nate Wollman. 

Wollman notes how the creation of the committee for oversight is an “important step in addressing the challenges that come with AI.” 

However Wollman, along with other union members, assert that the proposal fails to include a roadmap on how the county plans to incorporate workers’ voices and input in the matter, since they will be the ones “impacted the most.” 

“As front line workers, we will be the first to know when this technology adversely impacts our services and clients. We were disappointed that there was nothing in his board letter concerning or mentioning the impact of AI on working families.”

In her statement on the establishment of the subcommittee Board Chair Vargas asserts: “you have my commitment that we will absolutely make sure to include workers in the subcommittee.” 

Action items the committee anticipates to develop are AI-related policies, new technology procurements, and governance for proactively managing new AI advancements. 

In her comments, District 4 Supervisor Monica Montgomery suggested that the subcommittee also looks at training the county workforce to adapt to AI within their roles.

To conclude the discussion, District 3 Supervisor Lawson-Remer emphasized that health and human services are at the core of the county’s priorities.

“The areas of our economy and society that are the least vulnerable to disruption by AI, is the caring economy–the work caring for people. It’s healthcare, it’s child care. It’s the work where you really need to show up as a human being  in relating to other people and the role of empathy,” said Lawon–Remer, suggesting that care, human connection, and empathy is something that can never be replaced by AI.