Guest Opinion | District 3 Councilmember Justin Jones: The Future Is Here: Pasadena Must Lead on AI in Public Service

With the release of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools such as Google Veo 3, Open AI Chat GPT, Microsoft Co-pilot, AI is no longer a distant promise, it is already reshaping how communities interact, cities deliver services and how businesses operate.

Some cities use AI to simplify documents and draft memos, making complex information more accessible to residents. While other cities have implemented chatbots fielding residential inquiries, resulting in improved response times and a reduction in staff workload.

Across the private sector, Businesses are using AI to streamline customer service, forecast demand, and manage complex service delivery. These tools are no longer experimental; they are being used every day to improve efficiency and decision-making.

There is also an opportunity to use these tools to provide better public services locally. AI can be a powerful tool to help Pasadena residents better understand and engage with the long-term decisions that shape our future.

But there are cautionary tales as well. In one example, an employee of a municipality, used AI to draft sensitive case reports, resulting in factual errors and a ban on AI use in their department.

This case and cases like it raise urgent questions for Pasadena:

1. Are city staff already using AI in their work, whether to draft reports, summarize data, or assist residents?

2. What policies and safeguards do we have in place to protect sensitive information and ensure ethical use?

3. How do we ensure that AI tools, if used, serve the public good by supporting our mission of delivering exemplary municipal services responsive to our entire community and consistent with our history, culture and unique character.

We must be clear: AI should help humans, not replace them. Pasadena’s greatest strength are its people, our residents, public servants, and community leaders, whose insights, compassion, and expertise must remain at the center of every decision.

In addition to trying to spark the conversation on AI in public meetings, I have also raised my concerns on the growing importance of quantum computing and the need to protect our data with stronger encryption standards. As technology advances rapidly, we must ensure our systems are resilient, secure, and trustworthy.

That is why I am calling for the creation of a City of Pasadena AI Task Force, a diverse group of experts in technology, ethics, law, public policy, and community engagement.

This task force would:

1. Assess if a permanent AI city commission needs to be established

2. Assess how AI is currently used across city departments

3. Recommend policies for safe uses of AI in city services

4. Identify safeguards to protect our data and ensure transparency

5. Establish barriers to prevent misuse, especially in sensitive areas like public safety and social services

6. Explore how AI can responsibly enhance public services, without replacing human expertise or community voices.

Pasadena has a proud tradition of thoughtful, community driven leadership. We cannot afford to wait for AI to shape our city’s future without intentional planning. Let’s lead by example, embracing innovation where it serves the public good, while protecting the human touch and the trust that make our city strong.

The future is here. Let’s make sure it works for everyone.