As Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to reshape industries around the world, one of the most critical questions is this: how will local and central governments respond?

At OPAL3, we’ve been asking that question for some time and now, we’re taking it global.

On 15 July 2025, we’re hosting the Governments and Councils breakout at the AIoT Global Summit – Economic Growth, a virtual event exploring how AI and the Internet of Things (IoT) are accelerating transformation across sectors, including public governance.

Why This Matters Now

New Zealand councils are navigating a perfect storm:

• Misinformation and declining public trust

• Unfunded mandates and growing infrastructure pressure

• Emerging technologies like AI, which bring both promise and risk

As tools like ChatGPT, predictive analytics, and AI decision support systems become more common, councils need frameworks, foresight, and public confidence to use them well.

This summit is a chance to hear from those leading that work — and to shape how Aotearoa responds.

What to Expect in the Governments & Councils Breakout

Our session, chaired by Colart Miles (Praxxis Group), is focused on practical leadership in an AI-powered world. We’ll explore:

• How civic leaders can build digital trust

• What a future-ready council looks like

• The real-world risks and opportunities of AI in governance

• How NZ is positioned globally in public sector innovation

We’re excited to feature voices like Suzanne Boyd, alongside other leaders from across NZ and beyond.

👉 https://techtalk.org.nz/events/aiotgs-2025-governments-and-councils

Why You Should Join

This isn’t just theory. It’s a chance to:

• Learn from global and local experts

• Understand the AI and governance landscape as it stands today

• Position your organisation for the next wave of digital transformation

Whether you're a council leader, policy adviser, or innovation lead, this is a conversation worth being part of.

Get Your Ticket – With a 20% Discount

As part of the OPAL3 community, you can access a 20% discount by using the code OPAL3 at checkout.

🎟 Reserve your place:

👉 https://techtalk.org.nz/summit#tickets

The summit is fully virtual, so you can join from wherever you are and all sessions include replay access.

Final Thought

AI isn’t coming, it’s here. The question is how we use it to strengthen democracy, service delivery, and community trust.

At OPAL3, we believe local government has a crucial role to play and that now’s the time to lead.

Keywords: AI in local government NZ, civic innovation, digital trust, AI and councils, OPAL3 Summit, AIoT Global Summit NZ