Using AI to help local governments connect with constituents

Sep 22, 2026

Google.org and Jigsaw bring Sensemaking AI to local governments to turn community feedback into policy insights.

Omar Medina

Senior Global Portfolio Manager

Yasmin Green

CEO, Jigsaw

Illustration of a crowd of people in front of the white house with various text bubbles

Listen to article

[[duration]] minutes

Jigsaw’s Sensemaking AI tools help local governments gather and analyze community feedback to shape better public policy. With support from Google.org and other philanthropic partners, this program is now expanding to help more cities run large-scale civic conversations at no cost. If you are a local official, please express your interest in the Jigsaw Partner Program to start using these tools in your community.

Summaries were generated by Google AI. Generative AI is experimental.

"Using AI to help local governments connect with constituents" explains how AI improves public services.
Jigsaw’s new partner program helps local leaders run large-scale civic conversations for free.
These AI tools help cities gather community feedback to shape better local policies.
Cities like Bowling Green already use these insights to plan for their future growth.
Local officials worldwide can now join this program to better hear their constituents' voices.

Summaries were generated by Google AI. Generative AI is experimental.

Jigsaw created AI tools to help local leaders listen to thousands of residents at once. This makes it easier for cities to understand what people actually need when making big decisions. Several cities are already using this tech to plan for the future based on real community feedback. Now, Google is helping more governments around the world use these tools to better serve their citizens.

Summaries were generated by Google AI. Generative AI is experimental.

Explore other styles:

A year ago, Jigsaw, a tech incubator within Google, launched Sensemaking AI: a suite of open-source tools designed to help public leaders deliver on policies and programs that reflect the needs of their communities.

Today, as part of Google.org’s commitment to help governments use AI to improve public services, we’re supporting the new Jigsaw Partner Program with a collaborative fund to help more policymakers benefit from AI-powered civic conversations — and calling on local government leaders around the world to join us.

Through the new Jigsaw Partner Program, localities can use AI to run fast, large-scale civic conversations at no operational cost, surfacing insights about community needs that can help shape essential services. Cities are already seeing results: in Bowling Green, Kentucky, input from 8,000 residents informed a 25-year growth plan, with similar initiatives underway in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Riverside, California, Kitchener, Ontario, and more. Civic leaders have shared that Sensemaking AI helps them hear from everyone to make more informed policy decisions.

Google.org is joining forces with leading philanthropic institutions, including Bloomberg Philanthropies and the David & Lucile Packard Foundation, who will support efforts to further expand the potential of these tools in municipal contexts.

Civic leaders can’t govern effectively in the dark, and constituents shouldn't have to shout to have their voices heard. We invite governors, mayors, and local officials globally to express interest in using Sensemaking AI through the Jigsaw Partners Program. Together, we are building a future where hearing from every voice isn't just an aspiration, but the baseline for effective leadership.