Can the public sector actually innovate faster than private enterprises? In this episode of the AI First Podcast, we sit down with Suma Nallapati, Chief AI and Information Officer for the City and County of Denver, to discuss how Denver is using customer obsession and cutting-edge AI to transform resident services.
Suma shares how Denver is leveraging "Sunny"—a secure, encapsulated GPT-powered assistant integrated with Salesforce and MuleSoft—to handle 311 resident inquiries 24/7 in 72 different languages. Discover how they slashed transaction costs from $4.75 with human agents down to just $35 cents per transaction, and how they are streamlining complex licensing and permitting workflows using guided AI processes.
We also dive deep into the critical pillars of Denver's AI strategy: delivering real value, driving responsible culture and AI literacy, and designing seamless resident experiences. Learn how Denver established a robust Information Governance Committee, created innovative vendor risk assessments, and why Suma advises other CIOs to "stop doing AI for the sake of AI."
Whether you are a public sector leader, a commercial enterprise CIO, or an AI enthusiast, this conversation offers a practical, fearless, and ethical blueprint for driving real-world AI adoption.
What is AI-First Podcast?
AI is changing how we work, but the real breakthroughs come when organizations rethink their entire foundation.
This is AI-First, where Box Chief Customer Officer Jon Herstein talks with the CIOs and tech leaders building smarter, faster, more adaptive organizations. These aren’t surface-level conversations, and AI-first isn’t just hype. This is where customer success meets IT leadership, and where experience, culture, and value converge.
If you’re leading digital strategy, IT, or transformation efforts, this show will help you take meaningful steps from AI-aware to AI-first.