US National Association of Counties Launches AI Leadership Academy

The U.S. National Association of Counties (NACo) has launched the NACo Artificial Intelligence (AI) Leadership Academy. The pilot course will run for six weeks and is described as an innovative online program to equip frontline county government leaders with practical knowledge and tools. Through the course, county officials will learn how to leverage AI to advance public-sector goals.

“We are pleased to offer this new resource for counties,” said NACo Chief Information Officer Rita Reynolds in a statement. “As counties aim to deploy AI across a wide range of functions, the academy will provide insightful training to keep us on the cutting edge of public service.”

The association crafted the course curriculum with the Professional Development Academy, which offers “leadership development” training in cybersecurity, digital transformation, analytics, and other areas concerning public-sector officials.

As revealed by the association, the course topics include “understanding the power of AI, mitigating risks, and navigating complexities in an evolving landscape.”

The association stressed that the AI course will equip county leaders with the knowledge to take practical approaches when it comes to technology and the skills to consider how AI fits into their county priorities.