AI for Public Sector Professionals

Generative AI is rapidly becoming part of everyday work in the public service, but many public servants and municipal staff are uncertain how to use these tools effectively and responsibly. The risks, policies, and professional standards involved can make it difficult to know when AI helps, when it requires close oversight, and when it should not be used at all.

This workshop provides public-sector professionals with hands-on experience using generative AI tools (e.g., including Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT and Claude) to produce real work products such as research, briefing notes, presentations, and speaking points. Participants leave with practical skills, real outputs, and a clear decision framework to use AI confidently and responsibly in their day-to-day roles.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:

• Public servants at the federal, provincial, and municipal levels who are beginning to use generative AI in their work
• Policy analysts, program officers, and advisors who produce briefing notes, research, and recommendations
• Managers and directors responsible for overseeing AI-assisted work and ensuring quality and accountability
• Communications professionals preparing speaking points, presentations, and public-facing materials
• Municipal staff supporting council reports, community engagement, and service delivery
• Teams seeking a shared, responsible approach to integrating AI into daily work

PARTICIPANTS WILL LEARN:

• How to use generative AI responsibly in a public-sector context, balancing efficiency with accountability and professional standards
• How to apply a practical decision framework for when and when not to use AI
• How to work effectively with tools such as Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT and Claude
• How to give clear direction and context to AI tools, similar to delegating work to a junior team member
• How to critically review, refine, and validate AI-generated outputs using their own expertise
• How to produce real work products (such as research reports, briefing notes, presentations, and speaking points) that are accurate, defensible, and ready for use

COURSE OUTLINE

Introduction: AI in the Public Service

• Why generative AI matters now for public servants and municipal staff
• Opportunities and risks unique to government work
• Accountability, professional standards, and public trust
• Adopting a mindset to produce higher quality work, with less effort, in a more enjoyable way

Understanding Generative AI

• How generative AI tools work, without the technical jargon
• Strengths, limitations, and key differences from earlier technologies
• Bias in AI systems and approaches to mitigation
• Privacy, security, and information-handling considerations

A Decision Framework: When and When Not to Use AI

• Assessing task suitability and risk level
• Identifying tasks that require close human oversight
• Recognizing tasks where AI should not be used at all
• Aligning AI use with policies, directives, and professional obligations

Prompt Engineering: Directing AI Like a Junior Team Member

• Why prompt quality matters
• Giving clear instructions, context, and expectations
• Providing the right background information
• Iterating and refining through dialogue
• Ensuring that you remain the directing mind and author of all your work

Hands-On Application: Producing Real Work Products

• Conducting research and synthesizing information
• Drafting briefing notes and issue summaries
• Preparing PowerPoint presentations
• Developing speaking points for oral briefings and team meetings

Critically Reviewing and Validating AI Outputs

• Checking for accuracy, hallucinations, and missing context
• Identifying bias and questionable assumptions
• Applying professional judgment to ensure outputs are defensible

METHODOLOGY

This is a hands-on, full-day workshop delivered in-person or virtually for groups of 6 to 20 participants. The day combines short instructional segments, practical metaphors, group discussion, and guided exercises with generative AI tools. It is premised on the idea that participants need to use generative AI in order to understand it.

Participants are encouraged to bring a current work task, such as a research question, a briefing note in progress, or an upcoming presentation, and apply AI to it during the day. By the end of the workshop, each participant will have produced real, usable work products and developed a personal decision framework for ongoing responsible AI use.

Course Code: JS4827