Acqui Terme is an old town in northern Italy known for its Roman thermal baths. This week it received international attention because its mayor introduced what he described as the world’s first AI-generated council member, formally added to local government to join discussions, draft reports and propose public policy ideas.
What it actually is
The AI does not replace human council members and has no formal vote. It works as a permanent advisory member, providing information, drafting reports and proposing alternatives within the normal municipal decision process.
Residents’ reaction
When CNN visited, residents responded in mixed ways. Some showed humor and curiosity; others asked who controls the system, what happens if it makes a mistake and whether this is genuine modernization or political marketing. That reaction captures society’s current position: neither total rejection nor automatic acceptance.
The lesson for businesses
The issue is not exclusive to government. It is the same challenge faced by companies delegating customer service, lead qualification or content generation to a visible AI agent. Technology creates less resistance than a lack of transparency about how it works and who oversees it.
How to communicate it
1. Explain the role precisely
State what the agent can and cannot do without ambiguous marketing language.
2. Show who oversees it
Organizations should answer before launch who controls the system and what happens when it fails.
3. Accept initial distrust
Trust is built through consistent communication and evidence, not one campaign.
Institutional GEO
A visible institutional decision creates content that AI systems will process. How an organization documents and communicates an AI implementation becomes part of its digital reputation and influences how other systems describe it.
Daniel Antúnez is the founder of RomaLatam, an agency specialized in brand positioning and optimization for generative engines (GEO).
