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Slide 1 Good afternoon, my name is Chris Chidley, and I have served as the Manager/Director of IT for Skagit Transit for over a decade. I was brought on board following a 2012 cyberattack when the agency was highly vulnerable due to a lack of security. Recently, I have become increasingly excited about exploring the potential of AI and ML. Although I feel new to the practical application of these technologies, it has become clear that we need a guiding policy for adopting and advancing with AI and ML in our agency. Some systems are already utilizing these technologies, underscoring the urgency of establishing a framework sooner rather than later.   Slide 2 1-2 Minutes Today, we're delving into the future of AI and ML at Skagit Transit, where AI's potential across our whole agency. We're committed to harnessing this technology responsibly and ethically, ensuring we align with industry standards. How many of you have already initiated or developed a policy governing AI within your agency?   Slide 3 1-2 Minutes We are entering the era of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI and ML) for use in public transit and our agency. At Skagit Transit, our focus is on integrating entry-level AI to improve the passenger experience and streamline internal workflows. We are laying down a foundational policy that aligns with our current level of engagement and allows for future integration and expansion of AI within our systems.   Slide 4 1-3 Minutes This policy is a roadmap for innovation, aimed at leveraging the potential benefits of AI and ML in areas such as safety, security, scheduling, and documentation. Our approach includes a steadfast commitment to human safety and responsible implementation. We are crafting this policy to align with our values and objectives, emphasizing responsible and ethical deployment. It's a commitment to shaping our future in accordance with principles that are very important to us.   Slide 5 1-2 Minutes This policy outlines a comprehensive approach to integrating AI and ML, covering areas such as safety, security, scheduling, and document crafting. Key aspects include a commitment to human safety over machine decisions, leveraging technology for more efficient route scheduling, innovation in document drafting through AI, and ensuring future integration adheres to safety protocols and regulations. In essence, this policy presents a bold, yet carefully balanced pathway for adopting AI and ML, anchored firmly in safety, legality, and ethical considerations   Slide 6 1-2 Minutes Our overarching principle is human safety, a priority emphasized by our CEO and integral to our policy. This commitment has led to a specific section within our policy, dedicated to safeguarding the well-being of everyone interacting with our services. Our resolute stance is that AI will not be used in decisions impacting human safety. We underline our dedication to maintaining human judgment and expertise in all safety-critical domains.   Slide 7 1-2 Minutes Our policy conveys the responsibilities concerning AI usage within the organization. Specifically in document crafting, such as policies, the necessity of human oversight is emphasized. Generative AI can assist, but the documents must undergo rigorous review and approval by our executive team. This multi-tiered process reflects our dedication to accuracy, ethics, and alignment with Skagit Transit's mission, ensuring that we maintain our core values while embracing AI.   Slide 8 1-2 Minutes AI and Machine Learning offer us a substantial opportunity to improve route scheduling and enhance services. Currently, our focus is on establishing the proper foundation for these innovations. Although we are not implementing AI-driven solutions at this moment, we are eager on exploring these possibilities. Our next presenter will further discuss how AI and Machine Learning could potentially provide passengers with route information.   Slide 9 1-2 Minutes In the pursuit of efficiency and consistency, Skagit Transit is exploring the use of AI in document crafting, including the drafting of policies and manuals. AI's assistance in initial drafting provides a uniform starting point, accelerating the process and ensuring alignment with our standards. However, our approach places human judgment and oversight at the core. This integration of AI with human expertise aims to streamline the document crafting process without sacrificing quality, reflecting an innovative yet responsible approach.   Slide 10 1-2 Minutes Skagit Transit's technology strategy centers on safeguarding systems and ensuring compliance, focusing on three key pillars. Firstly, Data Privacy: We uphold the privacy of passengers and stakeholders. Secondly, Cyber Security: As a future consideration, we are proactively working to fortify our digital landscape. Lastly, Ongoing Review: We commit to continuous monitoring and adaptability, understanding that technology and regulations continually evolve. These pillars collectively create a balanced framework as we explore the potential of AI and advanced technologies.     Slide 13 1-2 Minutes Skagit Transit's use of Chat GPT for service alerts has significantly enhanced automation and precision. By collecting information from a digital form and transferring it to Chat GPT through a simple copy-paste mechanism, we can generate clear and concise posts for various platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and our website. Though not yet integrated through APIs, this innovation has yielded substantial improvements in efficiency, consistency, and responsiveness, marking a positive step forward in our communication strategy.   Slide 14 1-2 Minutes Here is a demonstrated use of DALL-E to generate oil painting images for service alerts, with Chat GPT crafting posts for platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, each in the appropriate format. Not shown is our website's alert, created differently but also with Chat GPT. A supervisor fills out a digital form that is emailed to our IT media group, facilitating a streamlined process in sharing service alerts across various channels.   Slide 15 1-2 Minutes As we envision the future at Skagit Transit, cybersecurity emerges as a proactive and strategic endeavor, not merely a defensive game. Our next phase of policy development commits to an innovative approach that harnesses AI to strengthen cyber defenses. Our planned actions reflect not just ambition but a commitment to creating a resilient, adaptive, and responsible security landscape that fortifies our future and aligns with our mission.