Revolutionizing Civic Journalism with AI
Smartacus founders Lawrence Toole and Dan Forbush believe that an informed and engaged community is essential to a thriving democracy. That’s why we’re dedicated to bridging the gap between government decision-making and citizen involvement, starting in Saratoga Springs.
By harnessing the power of artificial intelligence, we make complex civic processes understandable, accessible, and actionable for everyone. We’re transforming how citizens engage with local government.
Civic Pulse
Public Meetings Made Easy
Pulse simplifies government for busy citizens by delivering concise, AI-generated podcast summaries of local government meetings.
We process meeting videos or minutes using advanced language models to extract the key points.
This content is then transformed into a two-way conversational script and brought to life using text-to-speech technology.
The result? A short, digestible podcast episode that keeps citizens informed without requiring hours of their time.
Insights
Experts in Conversations
Smartacus dives deeper into the issues that matter most, conducting AI-augmented interviews with experts, policymakers, and stakeholders.
These interviews are recorded, transcribed, and enhanced with AI tools like Notebook LM to integrate reports, studies, and regulations for context.
We create a seamless blend of human insight and machine intelligence to deliver unparalleled depth and clarity.
Our Promise
We provide:
Comprehensive Coverage: By pairing concise meeting summaries with detailed expert interviews, we deliver a well-rounded view of the issues shaping our community.
Enhanced Understanding: AI helps identify key themes, pressing questions, and diverse viewpoints, empowering citizens with deeper insights.
Increased Civic Engagement: Personalized notifications and tailored summaries connect citizens with the topics they care about, encouraging active participation.