Is There a Future for Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Idaho Government? By Rep. Heather Scott (10/26/24)

Five years ago, Representative Scott and three other volunteers spent 12-15 hours a month analyzing and simplifying monthly proposed changes in Idaho administrative rules, regulations, and fees in order to make the information understandable for the average citizen. 

Then COVID derailed her efforts from data analysis toward “helping folks keep their jobs, avoid being forced to vaccinate, and helping them push back on the Governor’s mask mandates, essential employee designations, and business lockdowns.”

Recently, she asked whether AI could help with data mining projects like sifting through mountains of government bureaucracy and proceeded with an experiment that yielded encouraging results. She looked at the monthly changes made from January to October with these results:

• 3 minutes to find the monthly administrative rules, regulations and fees website

• 3 minutes to upload the documents for analysis

• 2 minutes to get the analysis

• 1 minute to save the document

With AI doing the grunt work she did 180 hours, or seven and a half (24-hour) days of research — in just 10 minutes!

Ms. Scott remains cautiously optimistic that this new technology can help analyze and put the brakes on our out-of-control bureaucracies.