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For three weekends this spring, a group of nearly 30 residents were tasked with recommending an artificial intelligence policy for Snohomish County.

Cascade PBS and KNKX reporter Nate Sanford has more.

Okay, next, transparent and easy access, two-way communication with the public surrounding proposed changes, ongoing implementation details.

The group had people with all kinds of backgrounds, including a retired engineer, a police officer in training, a middle school teacher, a social worker, and a tech worker.

AI is a polarizing topic, and some participants said they didn't want the county to use it at all.

I always joke that I'm a Luddite.

I have strong thoughts in how technology should be helping people and not taking away from labor or rights of people or their dignity.

Some participants had a more optimistic view.

I come from a software engineering background, and I assumed, you know, my reason to be here was to help shape how to help make the county the most out of AI.

Over the course of the three weekends, the participants heard presentations from experts in law, technology and government.

They worked together in small groups to draft a list of shared values and recommendations.

Do consideration deserves due consideration?

The process shifted some members perspectives.

I initially went in hoping I could basically just stop everything, which I understand is completely not an option, but what it really did was it helped me to better understand other people's thoughts and uses usages and processes.

I think my thought process has grown, and to incorporate all the other social and other equitable aspects that I didn't come in, you know, urgently thinking about.

Coming up, we'll look at the policy recommendations the Civic Assembly came up with.

I'm Paris Jackson.

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