Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson has paused the planned citywide rollout of Microsoft Copilot for city employees while her administration reviews the broader implications of artificial intelligence in government operations.
The AI tool had been piloted with about 500 employees last year under former Mayor Bruce Harrell. City staff reported positive feedback from the pilot program, with participants estimating the tool saved an average of 2.5 hours of work per week through tasks such as research and drafting written materials.
The previous administration had planned to expand access to the tool to all city employees in February. However, Wilson’s office said the pause will allow officials to better evaluate issues such as data privacy, public disclosure requirements, and the potential impact on the workforce. No timeline has been announced for resuming or expanding the program.
Seattle has already experimented with several artificial intelligence initiatives, including tools aimed at improving permitting timelines, analyzing near-miss traffic incidents, and supporting customer service chatbots. City leaders have also partnered with the University of Washington to analyze municipal laws for redundancies and inconsistencies.
As governments explore new technology, the review reflects ongoing efforts to balance innovation with transparency, privacy protections, and workforce considerations.
