As snow blanketed the region last week, over 30 Belchertown civil servants participated in a workshop on AI Safety and Literacy presented by the Public Interest Technology Initiative at UMass Amherst (PIT@UMass). The workshop, which was a culmination of over six months of planning by the Belchertown communications committee, town manager, and PIT@UMass, focused on three key themes: What is AI and how can the town leverage its capabilities and minimize its risks? What questions do we need to ask to ensure that AI is being used safely, fairly, responsibly and under appropriate human oversight? How might AI be used to enhance municipal services and infrastructure in a way that both protects and benefits the public?
Recognizing that “AI is already here,” Town Manager Steve Williams asked the Communications Committee to explore how Belchertown could safely and effectively integrate AI into town operations. This charge prompted Vice Chair Ed Comeau and Chris Martin to connect with PIT@UMass to explore a partnership that would benefit both the town and the university. Together, Belchertown and PIT@UMass see this collaboration as a pilot that could inform replicable models for other local and regional communities. At its core, the effort reflects a shared understanding that civil servants play an essential role in daily life and sustain public trust through their service. Educational opportunities like the AI Safety and Literacy workshop help towns develop core competencies for their employees so they can positively navigate the complex sociotechnical world we inhabit.
“We’re very grateful to the UMass Public Interest Technology team for coming to Belchertown and putting on such an informative training on AI,” said Williams. “Thank you also to our town employees for their curiosity, willingness to learn, and for sharing how they’re already using AI in their departments. This kind of engagement is exactly how we start meaningful conversations about new technologies that impact our communities. With Massachusetts emphasizing AI as a key area for growth and innovation Belchertown is excited to be a leader in exploring its safe, responsible, and effective use across local government.”
PIT@UMass is a pioneering, interdisciplinary, cross-campus initiative dedicated to preparing students, faculty, and communities to advance the public interest through the responsible design, governance, and use of technology in ways that maximize human benefit while minimizing risk. PIT@UMass Director Fran Berman said “It was a pleasure working with Belchertown to promote the responsible and safe use of AI as they incorporate these technologies into their work. We plan to use this kind of content with other communities in the area, strengthening UMass partnerships and empowering an ethical and informed workforce.”
The workshop content was created by leaders from PIT@UMass and the Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences, Fran Berman (Director), Emily Nutwell (Pathways Director), David Jensen (Professor of AI) and Donna Baron (Executive Director). The workshop also included a panel of Belchertown users from the police department, fire department, TV station, library, and communications committee describing responsible uses of AI in their work.
For more information about PIT@UMass or if you are interested in conducting one of these workshops in your community, please contact Donna Baron at dbaron@umass.edu.