Chattanooga, Tennessee, has built a reputation as one of America’s most forward-looking mid-sized cities. The city reinvented itself in the last decade by becoming “Gig City,” the first U.S. municipality to deploy citywide gigabit broadband. That bold investment in infrastructure laid the groundwork for Chattanooga’s next chapter: positioning artificial intelligence at the center of its governance and economic development strategy. From piloting smart mobility solutions to exploring AI’s role in streamlining city services, Chattanooga is setting an ambitious example of how smaller cities can lead in digital transformation while maintaining community trust. Washington CORE recently spoke with Mayor Tim Kelly, an entrepreneur-turned-mayor, who envisions AI as an extension of government itself, equipping the city to reach new heights.