The AI-Ready EDO: What Leaders Need to Know

Strategies for Organizing People, Data, Software, and Agentic Tools to Enhance Organizational Performance and Economic Impact

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming professional services, and for public-sector economic development organizations (EDOs), it presents a strategic opportunity to improve organizational performance, automate routine tasks, and strengthen community competitiveness. 

This series of four articles, written specifically for economic developers by Camoin Associates’ President and President and CEO of ProspectEngage®, Rob Camoin, CEcD, explains what AI is, what it isn’t, and how EDOs can realistically start organizing their people, software, data, and AI tools to boost performance and impact. 

A new article will be released each week in January 2026, and will be compiled into a single white paper at the end of the month.

Now Available

Part 1: Introduction to AI and the Technology that Runs It

What are large language models (LLMs) and how do they work?

Now Available

Part 2: The Real Capability of AI 

What is natural language processing and agentic AI, and what makes AI different from, and superior to, traditional Internet searches?

Now Available

Part 3: AI Adoption and Development Challenges

What are the most likely barriers to AI adoption that EDOs will need to overcome?

Now Available

Part 4: Recommendations for Leaders

What actions should EDOs take to begin the internal adoption and integration of AI?

📍 Related Articles:

• AI in Action Part 1: Economic Impacts Across Key Sectors
• AI in Action Part 2: Strategic Recommendations for Economic Developers
• How AI is Impacting the US Workforce