Larimer County outlines generative AI policy, staff guidelines and training plan

Larimer County commissioners on April 14 reviewed a draft generative artificial intelligence policy and related staff guidelines after county information-technology staff described rapid growth in internal use of AI tools and next steps for training, vendor engagement and monitoring.

The policy discussion, presented by Greg Turnbull, director of innovations and insights and information technology, and Mark Pfaffinger, chief information officer and internal services director, follows a year of pilot work and an employee survey that IT officials said shows substantially increased use of generative AI on county devices and networks.

Turnbull said the county tracked about 1.5 million AI-related transactions in a prior year and about 6.8 million calls to AI services on the county network in the most recent period. He told commissioners that roughly 400 staff responded to a follow-up survey showing self-reported daily or regular use rising from about 22% to about 44% of respondents, and sentiment toward AI moving more positive: “This year we've seen the positives jump up to 28% and the negatives recede to 15%,” Turnbull said. He and other staff stressed that those numbers reflect activity on county-managed devices or routed through the county network and do not include personal devices not connected to county systems.

Why it matters: County staff said adopting a written policy and staff guidance is necessary to protect privacy, public…