Macie Kelly / Houston Public Media

Citing successes in Austin and Los Angeles, Harris County leaders last week approved a two-year pilot program to use artificial intelligence to speed up the permitting process for new construction projects in the Houston area.

The AI implementation will act as a precursor for evaluating new building permits in Harris County. Officials with the county’s engineering department said it would make the process quicker, more accurate and easier for the public to use. Sign up for the Hello, Houston! daily newsletter to get local reports like this delivered directly to your inbox.

Samuel Peña, who serves in the department, said the technology will be used as an automated completeness screening for permits before they go up for review in front of an actual pe

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