Read the full story in the Denver Gazette.
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston has a new assistant to help handle all those mundane tasks that come with well, being, Mike Johnston.
Back in February, the mayor’s office inked a deal to test-drive Chief AI, an artificial intelligence-based system that touts its ability “to cut through administrative chaos” and drive clients toward goals.
According to sources close to the mayor, the new digital assistant streamlines decision-making by providing more context and data, such as when the mayor last met with an organization or necessary background information from a policy advisor.
Described as a “command center” to manage the time, relationships, and priorities of leaders, the product compiles every scheduling request in a single dashboard so the mayor’s team can gather information, make informed decisions, and execute and follow up effectively, sources said.
The company was founded by Shannon Beckham, a former communications advisor for Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet.
The product’s website states it captures key insights, decisions, and historical data — so the mayor and his team can ask questions about past events, relationships, speeches, talking points, time allocation, and essential information is less likely to be lost amidst staff transition and personnel changes.
A Johnston spokesperson told The Denver Gazette that the mayor is committed to bringing innovation to government, and the use of AI is an example of that work.
“Chief AI helps remove hours of administrative burden in the Mayor’s office — from scheduling to briefing preparation,” said Jordan Fuja. "But even more than that, it helps inform thoughtful decision-making so we can better serve Denverites.”
Last September, Johnston launched DenAI, billing it as the first major city-led effort to connect public and private sector leaders from around the world, exploring new ways to use AI to solve complicated social problems.
The summit featured co-founder and executive chairman of LinkedIn Reid Hoffman, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, and Promise CEO Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins of the payment tech platform for managing government debt.
“Since coming into office, Mayor Johnston has been focused on how to harness AI to improve and streamline operations,” Fuja added. “As a city, Denver is constantly looking for ways to leverage AI to help local government serve our residents better, and we are excited to continue to find new and innovative way to use these technologies.”
