PROJECT BRIEF

BACKGROUND 

The City of San José has shown national leadership in guiding conversations around local government AI governance, establishing the GovAI Coalition and publishing formal AI policies. Building on these existing efforts, the Paragon Summer 2026 Cohort assessed San José’s current AI transparency practices and developed recommendations to strengthen the clarity, accessibility, and public engagement surrounding the technologies being used by the City. 

AIMS 

Building on San José’s existing leadership in AI governance, the project centered on strengthening the transparency and accessibility of the City’s AI practices. The team focused on researching AI governance literature, examining San José’s current practices, and creating practical recommendations for potential implementation. 

METHODOLOGY 

In assessing San José’s AI transparency ecosystem and developing recommendations, the team worked through four stages of research and analysis: (1) a literature review regarding local AI governance, (2) a current-state assessment of San Jose’s policies, AI inventory, and public resources, (3) benchmarking against peer government AI transparency practices, and (4) development of recommendations based on feasibility and potential public impact. 

DELIVERABLES 

The team created an AI Transparency Practices Assessment and Recommendations Report for the City. Deliverables included a comprehensive literature review about AI transparency and public sector accountability, a current-state assessment of San José’s AI transparency practices, and a written evaluation of case studies examining peer government practices. The report identified existing strengths and opportunities for improvement and developed recommendations to strengthen the clarity, accessibility, and usability of information about the City’s use of AI. Recommendations were prioritized based on effort, feasibility, and anticipated public impact. 

IMPACT AND FUTURE WORK 

This project provides San José with actionable recommendations for both the near and long term. Strengthening these practices can improve public understanding of how AI is used by the City while reinforcing accountability and trust in responsible innovation. Future work could focus on implementing and evaluating the proposed recommendations, continuing to gather resident feedback, and adapting the City’s practices as public expectations and AI technologies evolve.