Santa Clara County Supervisor Margaret Abe-Koga (AI Tech Policy Fellowship) - San Jose, CA

Summer 2023 Fellows:

Summer 2024 Fellows:

Summer 2025 Fellows:

Office Description

Santa Clara County, home to Silicon Valley, serves over 1.9 million residents with a budget exceeding $10 billion. Supervisor Abe-Koga represents District 5, which includes the cities of Cupertino, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Saratoga, Stanford (Unincorporated), and Portions of San Jose. The Supervisor's office is committed to leveraging innovation and technology to improve county services while ensuring equity, privacy, and security for all residents. As the heart of the global technology industry, Santa Clara County is uniquely positioned to be a leader in responsible AI adoption in local government, balancing innovation with public protection and workforce considerations.

Description of the Work

The AI/Tech Policy Fellow will play a critical role in developing Santa Clara County's framework for artificial intelligence and emerging technology adoption. This fellowship offers a unique opportunity to shape how one of America's most innovative regions approaches AI governance at the local government level.

Primary Responsibilities:

The fellow will support the development of a comprehensive AI policy framework for Santa Clara County, focusing on responsible adoption of AI tools that enhance service delivery while protecting jobs, security, and resident privacy. Key projects include:

Conducting research and analysis on AI use cases across county departments, including health services, social services, public safety, and administrative functions, to identify opportunities for efficiency improvements
Analyzing AI governance frameworks from other jurisdictions, industry best practices, and relevant state and federal regulations to inform county policy development
Engaging with internal stakeholders across county departments to understand operational needs, concerns, and readiness for AI adoption
Building relationships with Silicon Valley technology companies, research institutions, and industry groups to understand available tools and establish partnerships
Supporting the development of policy recommendations that balance innovation with worker protection, including strategies to retrain and redeploy staff whose roles may be augmented by AI
Assessing security, privacy, and equity implications of potential AI implementations, with particular attention to impacts on vulnerable populations
Drafting policy briefs, memos, and presentations for county leadership, staff, and external stakeholders
Contributing to public engagement strategies to educate residents about county technology use and gather community input
Researching and documenting case studies of successful AI implementations in other local governments

Learning Outcomes:

Through this fellowship, the student will gain hands-on experience in technology policy development at the local government level, including stakeholder engagement, policy analysis, and the unique challenges of implementing innovation in the public sector. The fellow will develop expertise in AI governance, public sector digital transformation, and the intersection of technology policy with labor, equity, and privacy considerations.

Desired Skills

Required:

Strong research and analytical skills, with ability to synthesize complex information from multiple sources
Excellent written communication skills, particularly experience drafting policy memos, briefs, or reports
Interest in artificial intelligence, technology policy, and their applications in government
Understanding of public sector operations and local government structure
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to engage with diverse stakeholders
Self-directed work style with ability to manage multiple projects

Preferred:

Coursework or experience in public policy, computer science, data science, political science, or related fields
Familiarity with AI/machine learning concepts and applications
Knowledge of data privacy regulations and frameworks
Understanding of labor relations and workforce development issues
Experience with data analysis tools and methods
Previous internship or research experience in government, technology policy, or related fields
Knowledge of California state and local government operations
Ideal Majors/Fields of Study: Public Policy, Political Science, Computer Science, Data Science, Science, Technology and Society, Economics, Sociology, Communication, or related interdisciplinary programs