From Concept to Impact: How Counties are Successfully Evaluating the Use of AI

AI is transforming county government, but responsible adoption requires more than enthusiasm. In late 2025, the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) partnered with CAI to tackle a critical question: how can counties objectively evaluate AI tools for cost, security, data protection, and real-world fit? The answer became the GovAI Trustmark, a first-of-its-kind AI certification framework built by and for county government, launched in the spring of 2026. In this NACo webinar, the practitioners who were part of the workgroup will share the process in building this online evaluation dashboard and how it can work for counties nationwide.

Key takeaways:

• A practical framework for evaluating AI - Learn how counties can objectively assess AI solutions across cost, security, data protection, and real-world applicability—moving beyond hype to informed decision-making
• Insight into GovAI Trustmark - Learn how and why the GovAI Trustmark was created, and what makes it a groundbreaking framework purpose-built for county government
• Lessons from county practitioners - Hear firsthand what it took to design and launch the Trustmark, including key decisions made, and lessons learned along the way
• A scalable model for counties nationwide - Discover how this framework can be applied across counties of all sizes to accelerate AI adoption while managing risk and ensuring public trust