Which Conversation Would You Most Like to Have?
A Survey of Interests
Reporters traditionally have reported the news – events in our communities and larger world that deserve our attention.
But with Artificial Intelligence, we can do something more: We can efficiently capture and report entire conversations. With the Smartacus Neural Net, our team can quickly generate a detailed and accurate summary of any meeting of experts.
What are the conversations the Saratoga community most needs to have?
We’re exploring this with the Saratoga Torch Club to plan monthly dinners for 2025-26 and with the Academy for Lifelong Learning to plan a menu of courses for this spring.
We’ll publish these conversations on Civic Conversations and AI at Work. We invite you to subscribe to the Substack we’ve created for each of these and see a new a new journalistic approach at work.
Below are 18 conversations for which
we’re prepared to invite experts.
Please review them and tell us:
Proposed Conversations
If you don’t see the conversation you’d most like to have with experts,
please suggest it. We welcome your input.
Addressing the Housing Affordability Crisis
Saratoga Springs’ median home price now exceeds $630,000, pricing essential workers out of the community. Solutions include zoning reform, workforce housing development, and public-private partnerships.
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AI and the Future of Work
From automation to new job categories — what workforce shifts are coming?
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AI and Education
Explore how AI is changing classrooms — from plagiarism concerns to personalized learning — and where human contact must stay central.
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AI in Healthcare and Human Services
How AI is reshaping diagnostics, elder care, and social services — and why empathy must remain at the center.
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Balancing Growth with Open Space Preservation
Development pressures threaten farmland and open spaces. Discuss conservation easements, farmland protection funds, and innovative approaches.
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City Charter Reform
How we might reshape city government, exploring benefits and trade-offs of potential changes?
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Climate-Resilient Saratoga
How to prepare for a hotter future: climate modeling, health preparedness, and infrastructure investments.
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Closing the Mental Health Care Gap
Saratoga lacks inpatient beds and treatment facilities. Discuss workforce, funding, and transportation solutions.
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Deepfakes, Disinformation, and Democracy
Examine how AI-generated fakes threaten elections and news — and the tools needed to defend against them.
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Downtown Traffic & Truck Bypass Solutions
Explore rerouting tractor-trailers, weight limits, and infrastructure improvements to protect pedestrians and businesses.
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Domestic Violence and Homelessness
Domestic violence is the leading cause of family homelessness. Hear solutions focused on prevention, housing, and wraparound services.
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Economic Growth in a High-Cost Region
Discuss workforce attraction, employer-supported housing, and transit subsidies in a region where costs keep rising.
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Heat, Health, and Housing
Protecting vulnerable populations as summers grow hotter: cooling centers, building design, and public health alerts.
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Innovations in Supportive Housing
Learn how supportive housing pairs affordability with services for mental health, addiction, and re-entry populations.
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Investing in Rural Broadband
Close Saratoga’s connectivity gaps for education, telehealth, and remote work through federal funds and partnerships.
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Policing and Community Relations
Following the AG’s report, how can Saratoga rebuild trust between police and residents? Explore oversight, training, and restorative justice.
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Reimagining Downtown Streets for Safety
Lower speed limits, add bike lanes, and restore the Traffic Safety Division to make Saratoga safer for all.
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Saratoga’s Short-Term Rental Future
Is the city’s new rental registry working? Consider effects on neighborhoods, tourism, and seasonal parking expansion.