Since 2021, cities have tapped innovations in artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies to plan, deliver, operate, and maintain high-impact infrastructure projects. These procurements present many new challenges for cities. And now, both the technology and policy landscape are shifting rapidly. This creates a complex challenge: how can cities balance innovation with prudent technology risk management?

This roundtable session brings together experts in federal, state, and city technology procurement to share fresh insights and tested strategies for moving technology innovation projects forward under uncertainty and volatility. As federal infrastructure and AI policy both go through major overhauls, how can cities anticipate and adapt to continued disruption? When does it make sense to move forward with AI procurements in infrastructure projects, and what measures can cities take to reduce risk? When should cities seek options to wait and see, and what are the costs of deferred delivery for AI innovations?

• Santiago Garces, Chief Information Officer, City of Boston, Massachusetts
• Waldo Jaquith, Government Delivery Manager, U.S. Digital Response
• Katy Ruckle, Chief Privacy Officer, State of Washington