Will County staff compiling AI-use survey responses and drafting policy

Will County staff told the Capital Improvements Committee they circulated a survey to departments about current AI usage and received broad participation. The survey found multiple departments using tools such as ChatGPT and Copilot, and many had not sought formal review or authorization from IT or the state's attorney's office.

Staff said the committee requested that a draft AI policy include a review process involving IT and the state's attorney, guidance on whether county communications should identify AI assistance, and training resources. "A lot of people are using ChatGPT, Copilot — those seem to be what's used now in general," a staff member said during the meeting.

Committee members stressed the effort is meant to be a baseline inventory rather than a punitive review. One member suggested an informal email from the committee reassuring departments that the goal is to provide guidance, not to "tie your hands behind your back." Staff said they expect to have a first draft of the AI policy in June or July and will present it to the committee for review.

What's next: staff will continue drafting the AI policy with built-in review and notification steps and return to the committee with a draft policy and recommended training/implementation steps.