Artificial intelligence is moving rapidly up the agenda for local authorities, but turning early experimentation into genuine, service-wide impact remains a challenge for many councils. Few local authorities have gone further in tackling that challenge than Brighton & Hove City Council, which has been developing a structured approach to AI adoption that goes well beyond isolated pilots.
In this video interview, LocalGov editor William Eichler sits down with Chris Wales, Director of Digital Innovation at Brighton & Hove City Council, to explore what scaling AI actually looks like in practice within local government. They discuss how the council's AI journey began, which tools have made it into live services and which are still being tested, and the barriers – cultural, technical and organisational – that stand in the way of moving beyond pilot projects.
The conversation also covers how Brighton & Hove is balancing the drive for innovation with the need for strong governance, data protection and ethical oversight, along with concrete examples of where AI has delivered measurable improvements to services. Chris shares practical advice for other councils, particularly those earlier in their AI journey or working with limited resources, and reflects on the cultural shifts needed to bring staff along with the change.
For local government leaders looking to move from AI curiosity to AI capability, this interview offers a candid, practical guide.
Further reading:
AI in Local Government: Success, ROI and real efficiency
Digital Transformation, AI and Local Government: The Case for Workforce Upskilling
Why upskilling the workforce is mission-critical
Future Sheffield: How one city council is upskilling its workforce
