Using AI to address a five-figure problem: Practical insights for municipal innovation

Municipal software is somewhat niche. Licenses can cost tens of thousands of dollars while the software is outdated. But municipal staff use it anyway, because they have few options and lack the budget and resources to build custom apps that would serve their communities better.

That's changing, and quickly.

In this session, Eugene Chen shares the story of a successful Edmonton mayoral campaign that faced the challenge of organizing door-to-door canvassing and turning constituent conversations into usable information. Using AI-supported development, his team built a far better, mobile-friendly platform in just a few months. It captured tens of thousands of interactions as structured, timely information that was used to make better decisions faster. It's since been adapted for municipal election contexts in other jurisdictions as DoorReach.com.

The example showcases a familiar dilemma municipal staff face every day: addressing practical problems when existing solutions are too expensive, require too much staff capacity, or do not adequately fit local needs. Through this case and additional examples from Eugene’s AI-supported work in data visualization and software development, attendees will gain practical lessons on identifying good opportunities for AI, accelerating development, working within local data constraints, and avoiding common pitfalls. The session will provide a grounded view of where AI can help municipalities deliver value faster, more affordably, and with stronger outcomes for residents and staff.