Your Next Employee May Be a Robot

Artificial intelligence, or AI, can move your county forward – but how? A number of experts in automation will come together at the 2017 MACo Summer Conference to show how AI can propel county governments into the future at the session, Will Your Next County Employee be…a Robot?

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Via Pega

Baltimore-based Mindgrub Technologies started building robots this year, after finding the robots at a Las Vegas conference “cute, but unsophisticated.” They have three in the works, all of which clearly offer potential benefit to counties: Tors, who delivers tours with interesting facts and history to visitors; CRM, a networking robot who works a crowd, cracking jokes and swapping business cards; and Snax, who delivers tasty treats to office workers’ desks. What county official wouldn’t love a robot wandering its office, delivering snacks? Jason Perry, Mindgrub’s Vice President of Engineering will speak to how robots can go to work for counties.

AI can travel farther than across the office to deliver pretzels. Governments use vehicles for everything from property inspections to trash collection. What if those vehicles could drive themselves? Steve Kuciemba of WSP, USA is a national leader in intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and automated vehicle policy. He has 30 years of leadership in the ITS field in both the public and private sectors. His background is unique, having worked for an automotive manufacturer, a State department of transportation, a private travel information provider, and a national trade/lobbying association. He will discuss the future of automated vehicles and how they can help counties.

AI can go airborne, too. Brent Klavon of Aviation Systems Engineering Company will show now drones can assist county governments with surveillance, security, inspections, and more. While notably used for military purposes, unmanned aircraft has a number of applications that can benefit county governments – from property inspections to public safety. (Perhaps to Snax’ chagrin, drones deliver snacks, too.)

Drones, robots, automated vehicles, oh my! How do local governments, with limited budgets and oftentimes limited appetite for risk, put these technologies to work for them? Doctor Alan Shark, Executive Director and CEO of Public Technology Institute, is a highly recognized leader in technology applications for local government. He is the author of the textbooks Technology & Public Management and 7 Trends That Will Transform Local Government Through Technology, and is co-author of the book Web 2.0 Civic Media in Action, and an author and Executive Editor of CIO Leadership for City & County Government, CIO Leadership for Public Safety Communications, and The Digital Journey in K-12 Education, among many others. Doctor Shark will join the panel to demonstrate how county governments can best harness the power of automation.

The session, “Will Your Next County Employee be…a Robot?” is a don’t-miss for all technologists, nerds, nerd-wannabes and dreamers.

Will Your Next County Employee be…a Robot?

Description:  Although it may sound like science fiction, it’s time to realize that the future brings automation to a number of government activities – and it’s coming sooner than we think. From driverless garbage trucks to robot cleaning staff, emerging technology will offer taxpayers innovative methods of service, while offering job seekers new and different-looking opportunities. This session will explore ways to welcome the future of automation to your county.

Speakers:

  • Brent Klavon, Aviation Systems Engineering Company
  • Dr. Alan Shark, Executive Director and CEO of Public Technology Institute
  • Steve Kuciemba, Vice President & National ITS Practice Leader, WSP USA
  • Jason Perry, Vice President, Engineering, Mindgrub

Moderator: The Honorable Jeff Ghrist, Maryland House of Delegates

Date/Time: Thursday, August 17, 2017; 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

The MACo summer conference is August 16-19, 2017 at the Roland Powell Convention Center in Ocean City Maryland. This year’s theme is “You’re Hired!”.

Learn more about MACo’s Summer Conference: