DARDENNE PRAIRIE — When Dardenne Prairie officials needed to figure out if they could afford a cityrun recreation center, they turned to an unexpected source: artificial intelligence.

Local governments typically spend tens of thousands of dollars for consultants to compile feasibility reports and design suggestions for projects such as park improvements, road and sidewalk construction, and building upgrades.

But in this case, Dardenne Prairie City Administrator Cathy Pratt used two AI research tools to compile a 13page report that was recently released. She said she cross-referenced it with her own years of experience in city government.

It was part of a push to modernize city operations, says Mayor Keith Widaman.

"We're behind the times in so many ways," he said. "We are still using p

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