The Water-AI Nexus™ Center of Excellence today released a new Insight Report: “Principles for AI and the Future of Work in Water: Building an AI-Empowered Water Workforce.” The Center also launched a new foundational online course in partnership with Watura: “AI 101 for Water Professionals,” which is designed to build shared understanding and capacity across the water community.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly moving from experimentation to operational reality, reshaping how essential public services are delivered and how work gets done.
AI presents an incredible opportunity in water in terms of improving efficiency, decision-making, and resilience; however, its adoption demands responsibility, and raises important questions and considerations about workforce readiness, governance, public trust, and accountability.
The Insight Report centers on the people who keep water and wastewater systems running and lays out principles for how AI can support the workforce, keeping humans firmly in the loop and ensuring expert judgment, safety, and transparency remain at the heart of water operations as new technologies are introduced.
Complementing the report, the new training course “AI 101 for Water Professionals” provides an accessible entry point for water professionals at all levels to learn more about AI, establishing a common baseline of AI literacy to support informed decision-making.