$2.4 trillion will be spent in the next decade on the “fourth industrial revolution.” This includes a broad range of technologies and data collection aimed to automate and reduce the operational costs of many physical services by using data and AI — such as heated sidewalks, smart buildings, and self-driving cars.

But can the fourth industrial revolution be trusted? That’s the question Dan Wu, Privacy Counsel and Legal Engineer at Immuta, posed to a group of Baltimore City employees at the inaugural City Government Coffee Club event on February 11, 2020. Dan Wu was invited by the Department of General Service’s BPIO Office, to give a presentation and facilitate a discussion with City workers about data and technology strategies designed to integrate and build public trust.

During a thought-provoking conversation, Dan and participants highlighted various challenges Municipalities face — including the disconnect between public and private institutions and the communities they serve — when initiating new technologies in attempts to better those communities. Also discussed were possible solutions and opportunities for meaningful collaboration between City agencies, public-private organizations, local communities, and grass-root associations.

DGS hopes that by hosting events like the City Government Coffee Club, employees across City agencies will come together to share their perspectives and strategies on how the work they do can engage with and empower the greater Baltimore community.