Blog | June 12, 2024
Blog: Are you ready for AI? 2024 County Technology Conference recap
2024 County Technology Conference gets counties thinking about ways to use AI
audit for Harris County, left, said he returned to the
conference this year because the content is always up
to date, and it’s a great way to meet and learn from
people from other counties.
(Credit: Texas Association of Counties)
Technology futurist Crystal Washington stirred up a flurry of excitement around artificial intelligence during her opening keynote address at TAC's 2024 County Technology Conference, held May 21-24 in Georgetown.
More than 220 people participated in the second annual conference in person or virtually.
Liberty County IT Director Nick Dennis was among this year's attendees. He highlighted the wealth of information shared about AI, saying he learned much about “how rapidly it's deploying, how it's going to affect counties and day-to-day operations, how to manage and protect our counties and users, and how we can utilize it to improve what we're already doing.”
Presenters showcased the latest AI tools and noted how counties are already using artificial intelligence for tasks such as grant writing, budgeting and email management.
stirred up the crowd as the opening speaker at the
conference. She explained some of the artificial
intelligence tools and how they’re being used.
(Credit: Texas Association of Counties)
Cybersecurity was another hot topic at the conference. “They always have the sessions that scare you a little bit,” Schleicher County Treasurer Jennifer Henderson said. “You have to go back and see, are you doing good cyber hygiene? Have I changed my passwords? Am I using MFA (multifactor authentication)? Those are always good and timely reminders.”
Web accessibility was also a key topic, especially in light of the Department of Justice's issuance in April of rules governing web-based government services under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
“I'm a huge proponent of accessibility because everyone needs to be included to access information,” said Chaquinta Fisher, IT support manager and web accessibility coordinator for McLennan County, adding that it’s important to “think about what the world looks like from another lens.”
Attendees looked ahead to next year's conference, sharing their reasons for returning. “It's great to connect with people who face the same challenges that I do every day,” said Larry Gatlin, Wheeler County IT administrator. “I learn a lot from the classes, but it's also interacting with your peers” about challenges you’re facing or projects they’ve already completed.
Kerr County Treasurer Tracy Soldan underscored the conference's value. “Everyone working in county government – from IT professionals to elected officials and key support staff – should attend this conference either in person or online," she said. "Technology changes quickly, and it is important to stay informed.”