In a previous episode, you heard how Ross Visscher harnesses AI to transform his internal audits in a thriving Canadian city. But power in the hands of one City team is only the beginning!

Because beyond the internal audit shop, an entire city is stepping into the world of artificial intelligence. Departments experimenting. Risks emerging. Opportunities everywhere.

And someone must bring order to it all. Enter Ross. Not just an auditor, but a guide helping a whole city navigate AI with clarity, control, and caution. Because when everyone has access to powerful tools, governance isn’t optional. It’s everything.

Discover how a city’s audit team is leading the way in AI governance and innovation. This episode explores practical strategies for managing AI risks, setting guardrails, and leveraging AI to improve city services, all while ensuring responsible use.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 - Introduction to AI in city governance and internal audits

01:19 - Ross’s role as a guide for citywide AI usage and compliance

01:58 - The importance of prompting: quick wins and frameworks

04:36 - Managing AI model costs with tiered approaches

05:29 - Building citywide AI governance and working with leadership

08:10 - Creating inventory and risk classification for AI systems

11:21 - Roles and responsibilities in AI audits across city departments

13:03 - Challenges of chatbot prompt injection and strategies for safeguard

16:01 - Bridging skills: from BASIC to Python, and the power of logic

17:01 - Closing remarks: CPE and community sharing in auditing

ABOUT ROSS VISSCHER:

Ross Visscher is an internal audit leader with responsibility for IT audit and data analytics programs at The City of Calgary. He has 19 years of internal audit experience, primarily within local government, complemented by earlier experience in financial services and public accounting.

For more than a decade, Ross has been actively involved with the Association of Local Government Auditors (ALGA) and served as President for the 2024–2025 term.

He holds multiple professional certifications, including Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Public Accountant (CPA – North Carolina), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), and Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC). His specialized credentials include ISACA’s Advanced in AI Audit (AAIA), ACL Analytics Certified Data Analyst (ACDA) and Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst Associate.