---
id: "govlab:project/ai-localism"
type: "GovLab project"
title: "AI Localism"
url: "https://thegovlab.org/project/ai-localism"
authors: ["Stefaan Verhulst","Sara Marcucci"]
summary: "AI Localism is a series of projects examining the actions taken by local decision-makers to address the use of AI within a city or community."
source: "The GovLab (thegovlab.org)"
licence: "Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)"
---

# AI Localism

AI Localism is a series of projects examining the actions taken by local decision-makers to address the use of AI within a city or community.

Project website: [https://ailocalism.org/](https://ailocalism.org/)

## Background

The GovLab created the [AI Localism project](https://ailocalism.org/) to collect a knowledge base and inform a taxonomy on the dimensions of local AI governance. This initiative began in 2020 with the [AI Localism canvas](https://sverhulst.medium.com/the-ai-localism-canvas-a-framework-to-assess-the-emergence-of-governance-of-ai-within-cities-70940bda690), which captures the frames under which local governance methods are developing. This series presents current examples of AI localism that reflect principles and rights; laws and policies; procurement; engagement; accountability and oversight; transparency; and literacy.

## Description

AI Localism includes an eight-part series that presents current examples of each frame of the AI localism canvas to identify themes among city- and state-led legislative actions. We ended with ten lessons on AI localism for policymakers, data and AI experts, and the informed public to keep in mind as cities grow increasingly ‘smarter.’ In December 2022, we produced a report titled "[AI Localism in Practice: Examining how Cities Govern AI](https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4284013)" based on this blog series. Read the full report [here](https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4284013).

This work also includes a [repository](https://list.ailocalism.org/) of actions taken by local leaders around the world on artificial intelligence. It allows practitioners to learn from others in the public sector.

## Team

- [Stefaan Verhulst](https://thegovlab.org/team.html#stefaan-verhulst)
- [Sara Marcucci](https://thegovlab.org/team.html#NULL)