Data Points Podcast
A podcast about government and data.
Telling stories from practitioners and academics about how data affects communities and the lives of residents.
A podcast about government and data. Telling stories from practitioners and academics about how data affects communities and the lives of residents.
— Why cities need faster, smarter decision-making and why empathy, judgment, and trust still matter most in the age of AI.
— In this episode, Flowers reflects on his path from prosecutor to New York City’s first Chief Analytics Officer and explains how cities can use data to improve operations, break down silos, and better serve residents. He also discusses why governments are struggling to keep pace with generative AI, what today’s chief data officers need to succeed, and why public trust depends on competence, transparency, and accountability.
Episodes
Episode #112 – Former NYC data chief Mike Flowers on AI, Trust, and the Future of City Data
Why cities need faster, smarter decision-making and why empathy, judgment, and trust still matter most in the age of AI.
Episode #111 – D.C. CDO Matt Sokol on the AI-Driven Future of City Government
Matt Sokol discusses why better data is the foundation for successful AI, smarter services, and public trust.
Episode #110 – Beyond Dashboards: How Boston’s CDO is Rethinking City Services
Boston’s Chief Research and Data Officer, Shin-pei Tsay, shares how cities can shift from analytics to impact by focusing on user experience, transparency, and practical AI use.
Episode #109 – How AI Is Redefining the Chief Data Officer Role, an interview with GovEx CDO-in-Residence Justin Elszasz
Justin Elszasz, former Chief Data Officer for Baltimore and GovEx advisor and CDO-in-Residence, shares what it takes to lead data strategy, navigate complexity, and guide responsible AI use in cities.
Episode #108 – Meet the CDOs: Melisa Breda on Trust and Responsibility in the Age of AI
Melisa Breda, former Chief Data Officer for Buenos Aires, and GovEx advisor and CDO-in-Residence, shares a candid look at what it takes to make data and AI trusted tools of government.
Episode #107 – Trust Through Results: Data, Evidence, and the Future of Public Service
esults for America CEO Michele Jolin and GovEx’s Oliver Wise discuss how governments can use evidence, data, and cross-sector partnerships to fund solutions that improve lives and rebuild public trust.
Episode #106 – From Vision to Impact: Lessons from GovEx’s First 10 Years
Beth Blauer and Oliver Wise reflect on the roots, risks, and real-world impact of building a data-first culture in government.
Episode #105 – From Potholes to Predictive Power: How One City Is Using AI to Stay Ahead
With support from the City Data Alliance AI Track, Luján de Cuyo embraced AI and shifted from reactive repairs to proactive service delivery.
Episode #104 – What’s Your AI IQ? How Cities Are Measuring and Making Progress
The AI Capacity Quiz is helping cities reflect, compare, and take confident steps forward
Episode #103 – AI City Showcase: How Guatemala City is using AI to Combat Climate Change
The city developed its AI prototype as part of the Bloomberg Philanthropies City Data Alliance AI Track.