California’s governor wants AI to help solve housing, homelessness

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CN) — California Governor Gavin Newsom hopes artificial intelligence can help address the state’s housing and homelessness problems.

Newsom on Thursday announced that he was inviting AI developers to come up with generative AI solutions to the Golden State’s toughest issues, which include housing and homelessness. The governor also wants to learn how the technology could help with fiscal analyses of the state budget.

“As the birthplace of the tech industry and the fifth largest economy in the world, California isn’t afraid of progress,” Newsom said in a statement. “We’ll deploy every tool to address some of the most vexing issues of our time, including the housing and homelessness crisis. California has the technology and the innovative spirit — let’s put them to use for the public good.”

An example of generative AI is ChatGPT, a chatbot that can, with certain limitations, answer users' questions, solve word problems and write computer code, songs and essays.

The state wants to learn how AI could get people into treatment through identifying shelter and treatment beds. Potentially, local governments could have real-time information about those beds’ availability.

For housing, the state is looking for better insight into decisions about local permitting and development. It wants to ensure every jurisdiction has enough housing for everyone.

Additionally, AI could help analysts poring over the state budget. Analysts could create policy faster and more efficiently, make policy that shines a light on certain needs, and open the door to better use California’s budget resources.

Developers of large language models — AIs like ChatGPT that can answer questions and summarize documents — can apply to be presenters at a Sept. 26 showcase in Sacramento, California. Those chosen will give 15-minute demonstrations to show the capabilities of their models, followed by a question-and-answer session.

State agencies have been examining GenAI for possible use in government, especially for uses that could affect vulnerable populations. Newsom’s Thursday announcement is the first move in a process that could lead to AI’s use in these areas.

Thursday’s announcement comes in the wake of a May declaration that the state will work with companies to find solutions to five problems, which include traffic congestion and language accessibility.

Newsom also unveiled a partnership with NVIDIA to use AI and help students, teachers and workers gain new skills.

“The innovator community jumped at the chance to partner with the state to explore if GenAI can benefit our residents and our workforce,” Government Operations Agency Secretary Amy Tong said in a statement. “This overwhelming response, along with the ongoing work, shows us that we can embrace GenAI’s many opportunities while taking appropriate measures to approach it safely and responsibly.”

Safety issues and AI were top of mind for many California lawmakers this year.

State Senator Scott Wiener, a San Francisco Democrat, wrote Senate Bill 1047, called the Safe and Secure Innovation for Frontier Artificial Intelligence Models Act.

In its original form, it would have placed strict guardrails on the development of large AI. However, it was amended in the Assembly and narrowed the requirements developers must follow.

The bill passed both houses and is on its way to Newsom’s desk.

The promise and potential threat AI brings has led the state and federal governments to get involved.

Newsom in September 2023 issued an executive order that set rules for how California will address the development of AI that’s ethical, transparent and trustworthy.

The following month President Joe Biden issued an executive order that called for creating standards about safety and privacy protection. Biden also pointed to the promotion of AI, as well as innovation and competition.

One Republican, state Senator Brian Dahle, chided Newsom's announcement in a Thursday statement.

“The governor has campaigned on solving homelessness since his days as mayor of San Francisco, and he isn’t fooling anyone with the shiny new promise of AI," Dahle said. "California’s housing shortage is the result of bad policies that won’t be solved with fancy new technology. He needs to look in the mirror, and to his own party and have an honest conversation about the crisis their policies have created."

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