How Tempe built workforce and policy foundations for responsible AI use

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Summary

Tempe, Arizona, located in the Phoenix metropolitan area, used its participation in the City Data Alliance (CDA) to strengthen the city’s capacity to use data and AI responsibly. Rather than focusing on a single AI application, the city invested in workforce skills, governance structures, and clear rules for emerging technologies. Tempe developed a citywide data strategy that includes a Data Workforce Plan and an Ethical AI Policy, which together enable transparent, accountable, and public value–aligned use of AI across departments. These investments reduced reliance on vendors for core data capabilities and established consistent expectations for how AI tools are evaluated, procured, and deployed citywide.

 

Vision

AI is becoming increasingly present in public services, raising important questions about equity, transparency, and public trust. City leaders in Tempe understood that adopting these tools responsibly would require skilled staff, shared standards, and clear governance, not just new technology.

Mayor Corey Woods set a clear objective: ensure Tempe can use AI in ways that strengthen public value and protect residents. This meant building the internal capacity needed to guide AI use, establishing rules that support accountability, and creating structures that help departments adopt new tools safely and consistently.

 

Approach

With the appointment of Dr. Stephanie Deitrick as the city’s first chief data and analytics officer, Tempe unified leadership for data, analytics, and AI under a single vision. Building on the city’s CDA foundations, Tempe moved beyond isolated experiments organized its responsible AI work around three core elements:

  1. Building internal data and AI capacity: Tempe created a data workforce plan to strengthen data literacy and technical skills across departments. Elevating Deitrick enabled the creation of a dedicated data team to lead analytics, governance, and AI coordination. By investing in internal talent instead of relying primarily on vendors, the city created sustainable capacity that supports multiple priorities, including data transparency in community safety.
  2. Establishing clear rules for AI use: In 2023, Tempe City Council approved the Ethical AI Policy, the first policy of its kind adopted by a city in Arizona. Departments must now document the purpose of AI tools before implementation, and residents are notified when AI generated content is used. Procurement now requires vendors to disclose any AI components in their products, and a technology and innovation steering committee oversees monitoring and public awareness.
  3. Centralizing governance and practice: The Center for Integrated Data Innovation brings together data governance, evaluations, GIS, cloud governance, and AI oversight in one coordinated hub. This structure has implemented safeguards such as predefined approved use cases, structured risk scoping conversations with departments, and review processes for nonstandard tools. The AI Opportunities Group identifies new applications and supports staff, while data quality improvements ensure that assets like public facing chatbots provide accurate information. 

 

Impact

Tempe’s investments have strengthened the city’s ability to adopt AI responsibly and consistently across departments:

  • Expanded internal expertise: The creation of three new data positions increased the city’s in-house expertise for analytics, governance, and AI oversight.
  • More accountable AI use: Unified governance structures and standardized review processes reduced siloed adoption, strengthened risk management, and improved oversight of tools with embedded AI functionality.
  • A more prepared workforce: Ethical AI training and literacy efforts are building shared understanding and practical skills that support long‑term sustainability as new tools and technology emerge.

Tempe continues to strengthen these foundations by refining governance processes and ensuring that future AI applications align with public goals and resident trust.

 

Lessons

Tempe’s experience shows that responsible AI works best when it is rooted in strong internal capacity and shared governance is in place. Investing in workforce skills and clear rules created consistency across departments, and integrating data and AI oversight into everyday processes reduced risks that siloed teams might miss. Most importantly, grounding decisions in people and policy ensured that tools align with resident priorities and public values. This approach builds durable practices for transparent, equitable, and accountable use of AI across the city.