The Parker administration is forming a task force that will develop policies guiding city workers on how they can use AI.

The big picture: With Congress stalled on comprehensive AI legislation, states and cities are making their own rules for AI in an effort to boost government efficiency and improve public services, Axios' Ashley Gold reports.

• Pennsylvania was the first state to deploy a pilot with ChatGPT Enterprise for employee use last January. More than a dozen Pennsylvania agencies have now tested AI for draft communications, summarizing public feedback and analyzing permitting data.

Driving the news: Philadelphia aims to have its AI committee in place by late winter or early spring, Kristin Bray, Mayor Cherelle Parker's chief legal counsel, told lawmakers during a Wednesday hearing.

• The working group will include the chief administrative officer and members from several departments, such as law and information technology, Bray said.
• City lawmakers told the administration they wanted to see some residents with relevant expertise included on the task force, so the public has a voice in shaping the city's AI policies.

💻 The city will also provide some initial AI guidance and training to employees in the coming weeks.

Zoom in: Philly officials are already using several AI-backed software programs, the administration acknowledged Wednesday.

• But the use is limited, such as helping to flag potential cybersecurity threats or generating text transcripts, said Melissa Scott, the city's chief information officer.

🚔 Friction point: Lawmakers expressed concern about the potential for AI to be used in law enforcement.

• Scott said she was "unaware" of any instances of the police department — which didn't immediately respond to Axios' request for comment — deploying the technology against residents.

What they're saying: Councilmember Rue Landau, who led the hearing, said she hopes to prevent the "harms of the past" from being repeated with AI.

• Councilmember Jim Harrity said that, like many residents, he's frightened by AI's capabilities and wants to ensure Philadelphians don't have to "give up [their] freedoms for somebody else's idea of safety."

The bottom line: The administration will consider all those concerns when developing the city's policies, Bray said.

• "Our aim is not to slow progress, but to guide it," she said. "AI is not a replacement for our people."

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The majority of Pennsylvania's independent music venues are unprofitable even as they pump billions into the state's economy, per a first-of-its-kind report from the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA).

Why it matters: Indie stages are economic and cultural drivers, but many are fighting to stay competitive against corporate giants.

By the numbers: Pennsylvania's independent live entertainment sector generates $3.6 billion in economic output and supports more than 24,000 jobs statewide, per NIVA.

Yes, but: Only 28% of Pennsylvania venues turned a profit in 2024, per the report.

• Many cited inflation, rising labor and real estate costs, marketing hurdles and lingering pandemic fallout as top challenges.

Context: NIVA defines independent venues as those not owned by multinational corporations or publicly traded companies, Axios' Nate Rau reports.

Flashback: NIVA formed in 2020 as the pandemic threatened the survival of independent music venues. The group quickly mobilized to secure federal relief, lobbying Congress for safety-net funding — and has since broadened its advocacy to champion the live entertainment industry nationwide.

Zoom out: Pennsylvania's local venues are battling the same headwinds as those across the country.

• 64% of independent venues in the U.S. say they're financially unstable, per NIVA's report.

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🤲 Holy Family University broke ground yesterday on a 10,000-square-foot campus addition to its main hall.

• The Holy Family Hall project is expected to be completed by the 2026-27 school year, a school spokesperson tells Axios.
• It's the private catholic institution's biggest expansion in two decades — part of a larger strategy to bolster its reputation in the Northeast, including offering more scholarships and expanding academic offerings.

🤝 The Mann Center is getting a new name after the Philly venue inked a 12-year naming rights deal with Highmark Blue Shield. Financial terms of the deal weren't disclosed.

• The venue also broke ground on a 40,000-square-foot plaza renovation project yesterday. It's expected to open next spring, coinciding with the venue's 50th anniversary and the nation's 250th. (Biz Journal)

📖 The "people's university" is back at it. City officials are holding a news conference this afternoon marking the reopening of Paschalville Library.

• The library underwent a $13.2 million facelift — renovations made possible through the city's Rebuild program, which is funded by the city's soda tax.

⚖️ Deep dive alert: Check out what hundreds of area attorneys said in a leaked Philadelphia Bar Association survey about more than a dozen judges up for reelection to the city's Common Pleas and Municipal courts.

• The attorneys evaluated the judges on several factors, including temperament and general qualifications. (Inquirer)

🦅 Eagles and merch go together like fall and football. Every Thursday from 11:30am to 6:30pm this month, fans can create their own unique gear at Boxbar's DIY workshops. Customize hats, totes, sweaters, and more.

🌽 Maze Days kicked off this week at Dilworth Park. Take the kids to enjoy the hay maze outside of City Hall, plus fall celebrations, storytime sessions and pumpkin carvings that run through Oct. 31.

🏒 The Flyers are readying to take the ice for the first of two home games, including tonight's tilt against the Winnipeg Jets. Tickets: $30+

• They'll face off against the Minnesota Wild on Saturday. Tickets: $50+

🎃 Chadds Ford Historical Society is holding a three-day pumpkin carving extravaganza.

• Artists begin carving more than 70 giant pumpkins today. Not one for pumpkin guns? Just show up for the lighting and fun stuff on Friday and Saturday.

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