We are seeking to partner with municipalities and small non-profits that are exploring the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for decision-making but may be uncertain about the tools available or the potential benefits and risks involved.

The AI Clinic at the University of Maryland (UMD) is an experiential learning initiative led by Professors Vanessa Frias-Martinez and Katie Shilton. It provides graduate and undergraduate students with hands-on experience in critically evaluating AI solutions for decision-making. Students receive training in both the technical and ethical dimensions of AI and apply this knowledge through a 7-week consulting project with a local municipality.

As a municipal partner, you will have the opportunity to propose a problem at the intersection of AI and decision-making, broadly defined. The AI Clinic leadership team will meet with you to discuss and refine the problem statement. Mixed teams of undergraduate and graduate students will then work on your project, meeting with you twice during the semester to share progress updates. By the end of the term, you will receive a final presentation and a comprehensive report summarizing their findings and recommendations.

The scope of potential projects is intentionally broad. We are interested in collaborating on:

• Scoping projects: assessing whether AI could improve a specific decision-making process in your municipality.
• Tool-focused projects: evaluating the benefits and risks of using a particular AI tool for decision-making.
• Forensic projects: reviewing an existing AI tool already in use to identify potential risks, biases, or overlooked implications.
  Project outcomes may include best-practice reports, comparative analyses of AI solutions, or quantitative assessments of the trade-offs between benefits and risks.
  Interested?

Please email us at aiclinic@umd.edu