The following summary has been condensed for length and readability. To listen to the full discussion, click here. This episode is sponsored by ETI Software and VETRO FiberMap.
As the AI wave sweeps across industries, broadband providers and municipal utilities find themselves at a crossroads. AI is everywhere—but are we using it safely, ethically, and effectively?
In this episode of The Broadband Bunch, recorded at the 2025 Community Broadband Action Network (CBAN) conference in Ames, Iowa, host Brad Hine welcomes Chris Draper, Board Chair at SafetAI, for a wide-ranging conversation that’s equal parts cautionary tale and innovation playbook.
Draper pulls no punches when it comes to AI hype. With vendors touting “AI-infused everything,” he urges broadband leaders to pause and ask the hard questions: What does AI-enabled really mean? Is it augmenting human intelligence—or automating us out of our own workflows? Most importantly, are we truly in control?
According to Draper, the first step toward responsible AI isn’t more innovation—it’s more skepticism. If a vendor can’t explain how their AI works, “that should be the first step toward getting fired,” he jokes. But he’s dead serious about the risks. AI tools can automate processes faster than humans can supervise them, which makes misfires—like pricing errors or data leaks—not just likely, but potentially catastrophic.
This CBAN panel featured not only Draper, but also Professor Aaron Santos and Todd Kielkopf , all working at the intersection of AI, broadband, and smart city development.
Santos’ presentation explored the “art of the possible,” using AI to reimagine civic infrastructure and create new revenue streams for municipalities. Kielkopf followed with a grounded take on implementation—how cities and utilities can realistically fund and deploy AI-driven projects. Draper closed the session as the “wet blanket,” grounding the optimism with guardrails: don’t just ask what’s possible—ask what’s responsible.
From document summarization to first-tier customer support, AI is already proving useful in broadband environments. Draper acknowledges its value in areas like:
Marketing automation
Data cleansing and error detection
Voice-based diagnostics and scheduling
Predictive analytics for operations and planning
But he also warns of the slippery slope. Without clearly defined oversight, ISPs could unknowingly aggregate highly sensitive data—from license plate readers to smart home devices—creating privacy and compliance risks down the line.
Chris Draper’s mission with SafetAI is to create oversight frameworks before regulations catch up. His team helps organizations evaluate AI risk, create governance strategies, and even conduct quarterly safety reviews to ensure AI tools align with their intended use.
He’s quick to point out that just because there’s no regulation today doesn’t mean there’s no liability tomorrow. “This is the Wild West,” he says. “And if you’re collecting data during the Wild West, you might be sitting on a compliance risk you don’t even know about.”
Draper’s journey—from rocket trajectory modeling to legal tech and now broadband AI—offers a unique perspective. His background in high-risk systems taught him that most failures aren’t technical—they’re human. That lesson drives his work today, helping communities leverage AI in a way that protects people, property, and trust.
As he says, “AI should never replace the human quality that makes our systems work—it should amplify it.”
Ask better questions: If your vendor can’t explain the AI, they shouldn’t be selling it.
Be proactive: Just because there’s no rule yet doesn’t mean there’s no risk.
Keep humans in the loop: Automation without oversight is a recipe for disaster.
Frame your values: Know what your community needs before letting AI shape it.
Invest in governance: A quarterly check-up might save you from long-term regret.
© 2025 Enhanced Telecommunications.
