Co-Designing with Communities: Building AI Tools with Residents and Frontline Staff

AI systems in human services affect residents and frontline workers most directly—yet they are often designed without meaningful input from either group. This session focuses on practical approaches to co-designing AI tools with communities, advocates, and staff who experience these systems firsthand. Participants will explore methods for engaging stakeholders throughout the AI lifecycle, from problem definition to testing and iteration. The session emphasizes how co-design improves system quality, surfaces risks early, and builds trust—while remaining feasible within government constraints.