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What AI is and how we use it
Your quick guide to what AI is and how we use it
AI or Artificial Intelligence is simply a way of using computers to do tasks that normally need human thinking, like writing, planning, predicting or spotting patterns.
In Cumberland, AI is here to help you work smarter, not harder, freeing up time for the human parts of your job: solving problems, supporting residents and making good decisions.
What is AI? (Watch or Explore)
More video explainers can be found at AI Unpacked | Local Government Association.
Glossary: Check the meaning of common AI words.
AI isn’t here to replace you - it’s here to support you. At Cumberland, AI helps with routine tasks like drafting, summarising or note-taking, so you can focus on work that needs human judgment, empathy and expertise. While AI can assist with efficiency and consistency, it’s not a substitute for decision-making - that’s what our staff do best.
Types of AI
You’ll mostly see two main types of AI, each with different strengths:
Generative AI
What it does:
- Creates new content – like text, images, audio or code – by spotting patterns in huge amounts of data.
Examples you might know:
- Copilot Chat, ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, DALL·E.
How we could use it in Cumberland:
- Drafting reports, emails or meeting notes
- Creating first drafts of resident communications
- Generating simple images for presentations or training slides
Predictive AI
What it does:
- Looks at historical data to predict what might happen next.
Examples in the public sector:
- Risk scoring tools, forecasting trends, spotting who may need support sooner.
How we could use it in Cumberland:
- Forecasting spikes in service demand (like social care referrals)
- Identifying late payments early
- Helping triage housing applications
For more potential use cases, please see What can I get AI to do for me, or, if you have an idea already, please leave a suggestion.
Other useful types of AI
Besides Generative and Predictive AI, here are a few more you might hear about:
| Type | What it does | Example in the Council | Potential use cases in Cumberland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prescriptive AI | Recommends the best action based on predictions | Suggests the most suitable service pathway for a resident | - Prioritise housing applications based on urgency and eligibility - Recommend targeted support services (e.g. employment, wellbeing) - Help planners choose optimal site allocations based on constraints |
| Conversational AI | Understands and replies in natural language | Virtual assistants or staff–facing chatbots | - Resident-facing chatbot for council tax or waste queries - Staff HR assistant for common policy questions - Frontline triage for adult social care referrals |
| Computer Vision | Reads and analyses images or video | Detects fly–tipping from CCTV footage | - Identify potholes from dashcam footage - Monitor footfall in town centres or libraries - Flag inappropriate images in user-submitted reports |
| Rule–based AI | Uses fixed rules and logic to answer questions | Simple HR FAQs or process decision trees | - Triage Blue Badge applications against eligibility rules - Step-by-step decision support for customer service agents - Internal support bot for IT troubleshooting or access requests |