California Exploring AI Tools to Address Housing Crisis

California is turning to the tech industry for innovative generative AI solutions in a bid to tackle the state’s housing and homelessness problems.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has called on software developers to “create and present” AI-driven tools to assist the state, which has the highest number of unhoused individuals in the country.

The state is looking for AI tools that are portable and that would enable local jurisdictions to access real-time information on treatment options and shelter bed availability, along with data insights related to local permitting and development decisions. The desired tools also would also provide fiscal analyses across state programs, leading to “more efficient policy” development, the governor’s office said.

“As the birthplace of the tech industry and the fifth largest economy in the world, California isn’t afraid of progress,” Gov. Newsom said in a statement. “We’ll deploy every tool to address some of the most vexing issues of our time, including the housing and homelessness crisis.”

The Golden State is home to 32 of the world’s top 50 generative AI companies and one quarter of emerging technology patents and conference papers come from the state, the governor’s office pointed out.

On Sept. 26, the state hosted large language model AI developers to explain how their solutions can address California’s housing challenges. Developers got the chance to present their tools’ capabilities in 15-minute presentations, in addition to 10-minute question and answer sessions.

“The innovator community jumped at the chance to partner with the state to explore if GenAI can benefit our residents and our workforce,” said California Government Operations Agency Secretary Amy Ton. “This overwhelming response, along with the ongoing work, shows us that we can embrace GenAI’s many opportunities while taking appropriate measures to approach it safely and responsibly.”

The Sept. 26 market research meetings with developers follow Gov. Newsom’s  summit on GenAI held earlier this year to discuss how the state can better  use AI technologies.

“State agencies and departments began analyzing potential uses for GenAI and developed critical challenges within state government, particularly focusing on issues that impact vulnerable populations,” said the governor’s office, which added that the current market research effort on AI tools for housing issues is a “first step” by the state to potentially adopt GenAI tech to address them.