Public health organizations have every reason to be intrigued by the potential of AI. But, according to guidance recently posted by the Kansas Health Institute, “While some may proceed too quickly by adopting AI without fully developed rationale, others may hesitate due to uncertainty or challenges in the evolving field. 

Addressing these challenges requires a thoughtful multipronged approach – including well-designed policies, to ensure responsible and effective AI use while mitigating potential drawbacks.”

How can public sector public health departments make the most of AI without running into the bumps that inevitably crop up when they move recklessly forward at too quick a pace, and yet move forward without letting fear stop them in their tracks? The Kansas Health Institute in collaboration with Health Resources In Action, PHIG Partners, and the Wichita State University Community Engagement Institute has created a powerful tool to help answer these questions, through a framework called “Developing Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policies for Public health Organizations: A Template and Guidance.” 

It addresses six specific topics:

• Data Privacy

• Bias Mitigation

• Human Oversight

• Transparency

• Community Engagement

• Training and Capacity Building

Among other things, this document: “Includes a series of self-reflection questions designed to help organizations and individuals articulate a clear rationale for when AI might be an appropriate solution while ensuring that equity and ethics remain central to decision making on AI use.”

Obviously, dealing with the promise and pitfalls of AI is not the job for a single individual or even one department. To that end, the framework recommends that entities “Convene a team that represents different departments and includes individuals who will be involved. Importantly, as a best practice, employees at all levels — not just management — should have input into the decision and be encouraged to actively participate in the process.”

 One important recommendation to make the most out of this work: “As you go through this process, document the responses thoroughly. The outcome of this activity should provide clarity about the issues the organization is currently grappling with, the factors contributing to these issues and the potential solutions that could be implemented. If non-technological solutions should also be considered, detail how the team envisions the benefits of AI use and the specific cases where it could be applied. The results of this activity will help inform the development of the AI policy and the change management practices needed for its implementation.”

#StateandLocalArtificialIntelligenceManagement #CityArtificialIntelligenceManagement #ArtificialIntelligencePoliciesForPublicHealth #TemplateAndGuidanceForArtificialIntelligence #StateandLocalResourceforAI #ArtificialIntelligencePromisingPractices #ArtificialIntelligenceChallenges #ResourcesforAI #ResourcesForArtificialIntelligence #PublicSectorArtificialIntelligenceManagement #AvoidingArtificalIntelligenceBias #ArtificialIntelligenceTraining #ArtificialIntelligenceCapacityBuilding #ArtificialIntelligenceTransparency #TeamBuildingforAI #DataPrivacyandAI #HumanInvolvementandAI #PublicHealthArtificialIntelligencePolicyAndChangeManagement #StateandLocalGovernmentManagement #StateandLocalGovernmentPerformance #StateandLocalPublicHealthManagement #KansasHealthInstitute #HealthResourcesAction #WichitaStateUniversityCommunityEngagementInstitute #BandGWeeklyManagementSelection #StateandLocalManagementNews #StateandLocalArtificialIntelligenceNews #BarrettandGreeneInc