Lenawee County officials have delayed consideration of a proposed policy that would govern the use of artificial intelligence by county employees, as staff conduct additional research and respond to questions from commissioners.
The policy, first introduced in a committee packet, was initially approved to move forward to the Personnel/Ways and Means Committee. However, the progression was halted after several commissioners requested more information, according to marketing and communications coordinator Jennifer Ambrose.
Ambrose said the proposal is intended as a proactive measure, rather than a response to any specific incident. The policy aims to address the rapid emergence of new technology and a growing AI presence in workplace operations, including government.
“The goal is to establish best practices and clear expectations for responsible use as AI becomes more common,” Ambrose said.
Under the proposed framework, oversight and enforcement would fall to the Lenawee County Information Technology Department, consistent with existing governance of technology resources. The policy is designed to provide employees with guidance on appropriate AI use, particularly when handling confidential, sensitive or personal information.
The county also plans to maintain a list of approved AI tools and platforms. The list would be managed separately from the policy itself, allowing officials to update as technology changes without requiring formal amendments.
Ambrose confirmed some departments are already using AI. The proposed policy wouldn’t introduce new technology, but rather create standardized guidelines for how those tools should be used across county government.
There’s currently no timeline for when the policy will return for consideration.
— Contact reporter Corey Murray at cmurray@lenconnect.com or follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @cmurrayhdn.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Lenawee County pumps breaks on policy governing use of AI
Reporting by Corey J. Murray, The Daily Telegram / The Daily Telegram
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Corey J. Murray, The Daily Telegram | USA TODAY Network
