Street-Level Bureaucrats’ Perspectives on AI and Robotics Adoption in New York City's Building Sector

• In Event: Governing Innovation: AI, Infrastructure, and Global Public Value

Abstract

Despite growing interest in technological innovation to enhance energy efficiency in buildings, limited research has examined how frontline implementers - particularly street-level bureaucrats - perceive the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics. This study investigates the implementers’ perceptions of these technologies in New York City’s building sector. Through a mixed-methods approach combining semi-structured interviews, surveys, and focus groups, we assess the perspectives from professionals, building operators, and building occupants. Structural topic modeling (STM) of interview data reveals ten distinct topics (i.e., associated with different groups) categorized under four themes: perceived advantages, disadvantages, energy efficiency, and decision-making within regulatory frameworks such as Local Law 97. While professionals emphasized data-driven benefits and regulatory compliance, building operators expressed concerns about costs, aging infrastructure, and decision-making processes. To complement the interview findings, results from surveys and focus groups with building occupants suggest a generally positive orientation toward technology adoption. This research contributes novel empirical insights into the human and organizational dimensions of AI and robotics adoption and building energy upgrades, offering valuable implications for inclusive technology implementation and climate policy compliance.

Author

• Yutong Si, Columbia University
  Presenting Author