The national conversation around artificial intelligence is dominated by voices on the coasts, whether it’s machine-learning engineers in San Francisco or venture capitalists in New York. On the news every day, there are arguments about whether AI will save humanity or destroy it. But just a few hundred miles inland in Bowling Green, Kentucky, a different story is emerging: one that places freedom of speech and community engagement at the heart.

Bowling Green just hosted the largest “digital town hall” in U.S. history, and the talk about AI isn’t focused on models or competition. It’s about how technology can help people reach their local leaders on issues that matter most to them: building better schools, safer roads, and a more responsive and efficient local government.