January 2025

Hello! TL;DR Version: This is a newsletter about exploring how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping government and public service, and how we can use it to make our work more effective, inclusive, and meaningful. It’s a space for ideas, practical insights, and shared enthusiasm for building responsible and trustworthy AI in the public sector.

When I first thought of starting this, I wanted to call it What I’d Tell You About AI, and honestly, that’s still the vibe, but I’d like to do it as if we’re sitting around the table, swapping information and ideas. So I would love to have a dynamic and engaged community full of brainstorming, teamwork, and information sharing.

Thanks for reading, and I hope you’ll stick around! The last thing, most of my posts are free. Occasionally, I’ll dive deep into exclusive case studies, tutorials, or trends for paid subscribers, so consider subscribing if you’d like the full experience.

About Me

I have worked in the public sector for 20+ years, and I am a subscriber to the servant leadership philosophy. I have always been a technology enthusiast, and I started my first professional technology training 25 years ago. Since then, I have done professional work for international gaming companies, led rural broadband planning efforts, spoken at the Austin Game Developers Conference, and won a national award for combining workforce development practices and gaming simulations to train youth for in-demand career fields.

When OpenAI released ChatGPT in late 2022, I knew the technology turn of the wheel was about to happen again. I went out and started formal training on AI, and I have over 600 hours invested in certifications that cover everything from machine learning to advanced prompt engineering. I have pioneered the art of exploring and building local government level AI programs and services in North Carolina, developing responsible AI governance strategies, and I also spend time training public managers and other public professionals on foundational AI topics.

Free vs Paid Content

The basic version is free. If you subscribe to this free version, you can read general thoughts about things going on with AI in the public sector. Think of it as me chatting with you over a casual meal at a business conference.

My deep dive content, when I create it, will be paid. Right now I don’t have a paid version, but I may create one in the future when I am more comfortable with Substack. If you want to reach out to me for AI speaking or coaching, you can contact me at robert@publicsectorlearninglab.org.

AI is Always Evolving

One thing to keep in mind is that the AI space is always evolving, and the public sector environment will evolve with it. Content will change as technology changes, and I’ll push out updates as quickly as possible.

Thanks for reading this far, and I hope to talk with you soon!