California's governor wants to use AI to solve homelessness – but it's backfired, badly

California governor Gavin Newsom has launched a new bid to use generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) to combat the US state’s housing and homelessness crisis. But the move attracted criticism from hundreds of social media users who called for more affordable homes instead.

Newsom put out a call for software developers to “create and present innovative AI solutions” to homelessness in California. The state has one of the highest homelessness rates in the United States, despite being home to a booming tech industry.

Newsom said: “As the birthplace of the tech industry and the fifth largest economy in the world, California isn’t afraid of progress.

“We’ll deploy every tool to address some of the most vexing issues of our time, including the housing and homelessness crisis. California has the technology and the innovative spirit — let’s put them to use for the public good.”

Generative AI, such as ChatGPT can be used to create text, images, videos and more while California is home to 32 of the world’s 50 leading GenAI companies.

Earlier this year, Gavin Newsom held a summit on GenAI with leaders across technology, labour, government and academia to discuss how the technology can be harnessed to improve Californian lives.

Now he is inviting developers to come up with ways to ease homelessness and connect people to treatment by better identifying available shelter and treatment beds as well as tracking real-time access. 

The state governor also wants to explore how the technology can “create housing with more data and accountability” to inform local planning decisions and use tools to support building homes for vulnerable residents.

Newsom has recently been stepping up efforts to tackle homelessness, warning local governments they must clean up encampments or face losing funding from the state.

Last month Newsom told a press conference he wanted to “see results”, according to The Guardian.

An estimated 180,000 people are experiencing homelessness in California – around a third of the total across the United States – with the state spending $24 billion (£18.2bn) on solving the issue.

But the use of GenAI to come up with solutions did not go down well on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

In more than 1,000 replies, users were pretty clear on what needs to be delivered instead: more affordable homes.

One user said: “Generate some homes dude.”

Another added: “Build housing & do rent control. That’s it. Just do it.”

“Gavin, how could AI possibly help? Just give people houses,” another asked.

You get the idea. For more on how to solve homelessness, read the Big Issue’s explainer.

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