Artificial intelligence should not be thought of as a technology that decides in place of humans, but as a tool that can help us understand, organise and serve better, under human oversight, with transparency and responsibility.
What are we talking about?
Artificial intelligence refers to a set of technologies capable of analysing information, generating content or helping formulate answers. But AI is not human intelligence: it has no moral judgement and can make mistakes. Its use in public services must therefore be regulated. Useful AI is AI whose purpose, limits, data and conditions of human oversight are known.
What AI can change for a city
AI can help guide residents through administrative procedures, make content more accessible, translate or simplify information, support public employees in drafting and summarising tasks, or analyse aggregated data to better understand the city’s needs. It can also become a tool of inclusion for people facing language, administrative or digital obstacles — provided it is tested, explained and always complemented by human solutions.
The red lines of public service
In public services, efficiency is not enough. Six red lines guide any AI project: no opaque automated decision affecting a person; no use without a clear purpose; no excessive data collection; no replacement of humans in sensitive situations; no unevaluated tool; no digital exclusion — everyone must have alternatives.
Skills and critical thinking
AI is already transforming the world of work and requires everyone to develop stronger digital literacy. Teaching AI does not mean turning everyone into an engineer: it means providing reference points — understanding what a tool does, checking an answer, protecting one’s data, keeping a critical mind. It is a matter of empowerment, employment and equal opportunity.