Woodlands County is in the process of developing an artificial intelligence (AI) policy, which has been directed to undergo further review.
Woodlands County council met on Jan. 15 and discussed the policy, which they amended by removing references to council.
The amended section proposed guardrails that would limit AI use with in-camera, draft, unpublished or otherwise privileged municipal materials unless the AI tool is approved or governed by the municipality and restrict the creation or training of AI bots using municipal information. Administration referenced the third-party nature of AI tools and a lack of continuous control over input data as the rationale behind the suggestions.
Councillor Patricia MacNeil proposed an amendment that struck these councillor-specific recommendations, citing concern that, as presented, the document would limit councillors’ AI access and abilities to less than those of the public.
The motion to amend also referred the policy, once amended, to the Governance and Priorities Committee for further review. It passed 6-1, with Reeve Dave Kusch in opposition.
Generally, the policy outlines how municipal records and information are protected, while endeavouring to support the responsible and productive use of AI tools within the organization. To support its development, administration reviewed similar policies from other municipalities and organizations, including Westlock County, Red Deer County and Wheatland County and considered survey feedback circulated through the Alberta Rural Managers Administrators’ Association.
