Kildare Co Council exploring AI uses for services
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KILDARE County Council’s use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has come under scrutiny in recent times.
At the most recent meeting of Kildare County Council, cllr Rob Power cautioned against a reliance on national frameworks for the use of AI that may not be cognisant – in his view – of the potential benefits of the technology. This was after the council said that it has not developed a separate local strategy for the use of AI.
The Fianna Fail councillor for Newbridge brough forward a motion at the meeting proposing that the council “investigates the implementation of an AI in Public Services Strategy and possible pilot projects”.
Cllr Power added that “the strategy and pilot projects should ensure that AI is used to improve, not replace, the human services the public receive from the Council.”
Cllr Power is currently a business development manager at Klarna, the Swedish financial technology company and digital bank. The company said in 2024 that it’s AI assistant manages two-thirds of customer service queries, “doing the equivalent work of 700 full-time agents”.
According to councillor’s personal website, before entering politics he “built a career at the forefront of the tech sector, spending seven years leading sales teams at one of the world's most influential social media companies (Twitter) before moving into international business development roles”.
Head of finance Eileen Hanlon issued the council’s report in response to cllr Power’s motion, stating that the local authority’s current approach is to align with the government’s strategies and framework for the use of AI, rather than to develop a separate local strategy.
Ms Hanlon’s report said that the frameworks provide direction for the council by establishing requirements with regards principles such as fairness, data protection, transparency, and proper oversight. The report further detailed that council already has a mandatory AI policy for staff to ensure that it’s used safely and properly.
The report said the council is “building organisational capability including a Microsoft Copilot trial involving over 150 staff.
The council is developing several AI pilot projects, primarily to improve how work is done internally and to improve the efficiency of services.
The council is promoting AI adoption and awareness in the county through initiatives ran by the council’s Digital Programme Office and local libraries. The local authority is also helping businesses through the Local Enterprise Office in understanding and adopting AI.
The council supports the principle that the technology “should be used to improve, not replace services provided to the public.”
Cllr Power welcomed the report and said that he wants a “progressive” stance on AI. He said he is wary of national frameworks that may not be cognisant of the potential benefits of AI.
Cllr Power’s fellow Newbridge councillor Chris Pender expressed his support for the motion whilst speaking at the meeting.
Also speaking at the meeting, Ms Hanlon said that the council will report back to the elected members at the end of the year with further information on its’ use of AI.
