AI-generated summaries at the top of search results are quietly reshaping how residents get their information. Instead of clicking through to articles—or even city websites—many stop at the AI overview. That behavior shift is collapsing referral traffic for publishers and raising new challenges for local governments that depend on clarity, accuracy, and trust.

In this episode, we focus on the implications for cities and towns:

• Why declining clicks to local media outlets matter for civic accountability.

• How AI overviews could misrepresent policies, notices, or emergency information.

• What residents’ demand for speed and simplicity means for government communication.

• Strategies local governments can adopt—like machine-readable data, direct channels, and trust-building—to stay visible and credible in an AI-first search world.

• Why the real issue isn’t just AI, but changing resident expectations shaped by years of frustration with cluttered news sites.

The zero-click future is already here. Local governments must decide whether they will be left out of the conversation—or become the trusted answer residents find first.

Show Notes:

• ⁠AI in Government Newsletter

• ⁠Learn more about Micah's work

OpenAI’s GPT-5 is here—and it changes more than you think. While the leap from GPT-4 to GPT-5 may look incremental, the impacts on government workflows, prompting strategies, and governance are anything but small. This episode unpacks what GPT-5 actually brings: router-style architecture, verbosity and reasoning controls, free-form function calling, improved memory, reduced hallucinations, and more proactive “it just does stuff” behavior.

We also examine why these changes matter for local government. From disrupted automations to the need for explicit prompting strategies, GPT-5 requires a shift in mindset: treat it as infrastructure, not novelty. Learn practical ways to manage governance, set boundaries, and unlock higher-quality outputs by using verbosity settings, reasoning levels, rubrics, and the “router mindset.”

If you work in or with government, this episode gives you the briefing you need to understand both the risks and opportunities of GPT-5.

Show Notes:

• SGR Wednesday Webinar: Unlocking the Power of GPT-5

• AI in Government LinkedIn Newsletter: Prompting GPT-5 in Local Government: Length, Voice, and the Router Mindset

  Learn more about Micah's work

AI is transforming public governance—streamlining operations, reshaping service delivery, and opening new possibilities for accountability and oversight. But alongside these opportunities come profound risks: bias, privacy breaches, transparency gaps, and declining public trust. In this episode, we unpack the dual role of government as both regulator and user of AI, drawing on global examples from Finland to Brazil. We explore what an “AI-ready culture” looks like, why efficiency alone isn’t enough, and how policies like the EU AI Act are setting the stage for trustworthy adoption. The central question: how can governments harness AI without eroding the human judgment and civic trust that keep democratic systems alive?

Read the LinkedIN Newsletter AI for Government: Link

This episode unpacks Micah Gaudet’s argument that AI is not just another efficiency tool for city halls—it’s more like a new species introduced into an ecosystem. Drawing from his book Fragile Systems: An Ecological Approach to AI in Government and supporting articles, Gaudet warns that the greatest danger isn’t AI failure, but misalignment: when the technology’s outputs don’t fit the true goals of governance.

Key themes include the “efficiency illusion,” the risk of overlooking systemic impacts, and why efficiency alone doesn’t build public trust. Gaudet calls for a reframing of AI adoption—away from speed and cost-savings, toward questions of legitimacy, stewardship, and relationships. Practical guidance includes using demos not just to test functionality but to sense organizational impact, creating space for deeper human engagement, and redefining AI’s purpose to support staff, residents, and elected officials alike.

For leaders navigating AI adoption, this episode offers a crucial perspective: governments aren’t machines to tune, but living systems of trust and discretion. Integrating AI responsibly means tending that ecosystem, not hollowing it out.

Fragile Systems: An Ecological Approach to AI in Government
Learn more at www.civicinnovation.ai
Connect with Micah on LinkedIn

This episode dives into Micah Gaudet’s pragmatic approach to generative AI in city halls and counties, built around the idea that AI is no longer a side project—it’s an indispensable tool for everyday governance. Drawing from his book 1001 Prompts for Unlocking Generative AI in Local Government and his article Stop Worshipping Perfect Prompts, Gaudet outlines how to move past the obsession with “perfect prompts” and focus instead on outcomes, staff support, and citizen services.

Key themes include starting with decisions rather than topics, layering prompts like an interrogator, embedding “city DNA” for context, and iterating quickly rather than polishing endlessly. Real-world use cases—like HR policy bots, budget anomaly detection, and smarter planning reports—illustrate how governments can gain extra capacity without overtime while keeping solutions aligned with public sector values.

For public agencies looking to adopt AI responsibly, this episode provides a clear, actionable roadmap: stop chasing flawless prompts, start chasing progress, and use AI to better serve both staff and community.

Learn more at www.civicinnovation.ai
Connect with Micah on LinkedIn

This episode examines how AI is reshaping local government operations—and why we may be entering a “post-Google search age.” Drawing on real-world use cases from Civic.AI, we look at how advanced tools like Perplexity AI are shifting from being simple “answer engines” to acting as on-demand analysts. With features like live citations, audit trails, and transparent sourcing, these tools promise governments new ways to streamline workflows, strengthen public trust, and create extra capacity without overtime.

Key examples include HR policy chatbots that provide instant, consistent answers to staff questions, AI-driven budget anomaly detection, and the use of Perplexity Labs to build procurement policies or grant analyses in minutes, complete with references. The episode highlights both the strategic upsides—rapid prototyping, transparency from the first draft, and staff support—and the practical guardrails needed to ensure AI adoption aligns with public sector values.

For local governments navigating tight budgets and talent gaps, this episode shows how AI can act as a junior policy aide, helping agencies do more with less while keeping trust and accountability at the center.

Learn more at www.civicinnovation.ai
Connect with Micah on LinkedIn

This episode explores Micah Gaudet’s argument for treating public institutions not as machines to be tuned but as living systems to be tended. Drawing from his book Fragile Systems and article Faster Toward What?, Gaudet challenges the prevailing narrative that “faster is always better” when it comes to AI in government. Instead, he makes the case that trust—not efficiency—is the foundation of healthy civic life.

Key themes include the value of ecological fit, the importance of protecting “generative time” for staff, and why friction in public processes isn’t always failure but often a safeguard. Gaudet also redefines AI procurement as ecosystem design, urging leaders to evaluate technology by how it strengthens relationships, preserves judgment, and builds long-term resilience.

For local governments considering AI adoption, this episode offers a framework rooted in stewardship, equity, and public trust—an alternative to efficiency-obsessed metrics that often overlook what truly matters.

Learn more at www.civicinnovation.ai
Connect with Micah on LinkedIn

Newsletter Edition

AI isn’t just for big cities with research departments — smaller governments can use it right now to make faster, better decisions. In this episode of AI Insights with Micah Gaudet, we explore how deep research tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google Gemini can help local governments analyze data, compare policies, and improve workflows.

You’ll learn:

• Why structured prompts are the key to reliable results.

• How to choose the right AI tool depending on whether you need detail, numbers, or broad overviews.

• Practical examples, from spotting budget anomalies to speeding up permit approvals.

• How Civic.AI helps agencies move from research to action with real-world AI solutions.

Based on my LinkedIn newsletter AI for Government and created with NotebookLM, this episode shows how any local government — especially those under 100,000 residents — can start using AI for meaningful impact today.

Connect with me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/micahgaudet
Learn more at: www.civicinnovation.ai

Newsletter Edition: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/practical-guide-using-ai-deep-research-tools-local-micah-gaudet-hxmdc/?trackingId=f7Gz%2F1QuS1mQ1Lggy6%2BagQ%3D%3D