From Blight to Insight: Kicking Off AI Innovators in Government with CityDetect

When I launched Great Minds Think Data, my goal was simple: to explore how data is reshaping industries, communities, and the way we live. Over time, I’ve spoken with leaders across technology, government, and business who are harnessing the power of data to create measurable impact. But as I looked at the challenges cities face today—strained resources, limited staff, and rising expectations from residents—it became clear that a dedicated series was needed.

That’s why I’m thrilled to introduce AI Innovators in Government, a new series within Great Minds Think Data focused entirely on the pioneers bringing artificial intelligence into public service. This series is about more than technology. It’s about visionaries who are reimagining how government works, using AI to tackle hard problems, and delivering smarter, faster, and more effective solutions to their communities.

For our first episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Gavin Baum-Blake, CEO and co-founder of CityDetect. Gavin and his team are addressing one of the most stubborn challenges local governments face: keeping up with the health of their neighborhoods. Traditional code enforcement has relied on manual inspections, vague 311 complaints, and small teams of overworked officers. The result is a reactive system where cases pile up and residents grow frustrated.

CityDetect takes a completely different approach. Founded in 2021, the company uses cutting-edge AI and computer vision to give cities a real-time view of their built environment. Instead of asking inspectors to go block by block, CityDetect leverages something cities already have—fleet vehicles. As these vehicles drive their regular routes, they capture images that are processed by PASS AI™, the company’s proprietary technology.

What makes this powerful is the data. PASS AI™ doesn’t just identify graffiti, overgrown lawns, or unsafe housing conditions. It transforms those images into structured, g

eotagged, timestamped data sets that give city leaders actionable intelligence. That data can be filtered, mapped, and analyzed to help governments prioritize resources, reduce duplicate complaints, and measure neighborhood health over time.

As Gavin explained during our conversation, CityDetect’s philosophy is rooted in listening: “We’re always happy to have conversations to learn about your municipality, to hear what challenges you’re facing, and to know what you want to see us implement before you’re ready to take a risk on us. We’re all ears all the time.”

That humility and focus on collaboration have already led to impressive results. In Stockton, California, for example, city staff reported that what would have taken six months of inspections now takes just one week with CityDetect. In Lancaster, Cathedral City, and other municipalities, leaders are finding that CityDetect helps them double their coverage while cutting the time and cost required to identify violations. And in Prescott Valley, officials are using CityDetect’s data to better understand their housing stock and decide where to focus rehab efforts before affordable housing is lost.

These are not small wins. They’re proof points of how AI and data can fundamentally reshape how cities operate. Instead of reacting to complaints, cities can move proactively. Instead of guessing at where problems might be, leaders have verifiable evidence. Instead of drowning in workloads, small teams can focus their limited resources where they will have the biggest impact.

As we wrapped up our episode, I thanked Gavin for his time and congratulated him on CityDetect’s success so far. His closing words captured the spirit of the series: a commitment to keep learning from cities, adapting, and building technology that solves real problems.

For me, this conversation underscored why AI Innovators in Government matters. We need to highlight companies like CityDetect that are proving AI isn’t just for Silicon Valley—it’s a tool for main streets, neighborhoods, and communities across the country. By combining technology with actionable data, they’re giving governments the ability to work smarter, faster, and more equitably.

This is just the beginning. Future episodes will feature city managers, technologists, and entrepreneurs who are pioneering new ways to apply AI in public service. From compliance and infrastructure to service delivery and beyond, these stories will show how innovation can strengthen the very fabric of civic life.

I invite you to listen to the full episode with Gavin Baum-Blake at GreatMindsThinkData.com or wherever you get your podcasts. If you’re as passionate as I am about the intersection of AI, innovation, and government, you won’t want to miss what’s ahead.

Because when great minds think data—and when governments act on it—our communities win.