Orchestrating artificial intelligence for urban sustainability

Artificial intelligence (AI) is regarded as the next digital frontier in government, with many potential applications for economic development as well as sustainable urbanization. Governments have started experimenting with AI, but empirical research on how to leverage and implement AI remains limited. This study analyzed two cases of AI implementation in a large city and identified various AI capabilities useful for government. More importantly, purposeful orchestration of AI-related resources such as data, knowledge, algorithms, and information systems is necessary for developing strong AI capabilities. The findings indicate two different types of orchestration: policy-driven orchestration focuses on the integration of resources, while innovation-driven orchestration focuses on triangulation. This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on AI in government by revealing and conceptualizing different paths and approaches to AI implementation. They also serve to inform practitioners' planning of AI implementation.