Why Public Sector AI Must Show Its Work
by Matt Barr on Feb 17, 2026 3:30:19 PM
In a recent post, we explored why AI hallucinations are a governance problem, not just a technical flaw. The real risk isn't that AI makes mistakes. It's that those mistakes can slip into public decisions.
Why AI Hallucinations Are a Governance Problem, Not a Tech Problem
by Matt Barr on Feb 12, 2026 11:02:16 AM
If you work in public sector, you’ve likely heard a version of this by now: AI makes things up. AI hallucinates. AI can’t be trusted.
Ding. Sidekick leveled up.
by Matt Barr on Sep 24, 2024 10:18:39 AM
The Highlights You've probably noticed some big improvements if you've been using our smart data assistant, Sidekick. Here's what’s new:
Spreadsheet Smarts: How Sidekick Outperforms the State of the Art
by Matt Barr on Jul 17, 2024 9:24:23 AM
Tech publications are excited about a new development from research at Microsoft. The technique, SpreadsheetLLM, is described in detail in a newly published research paper. As research papers go, it's on the more accessible side. Pro tip: read the abstract, look at the images, read th …
Sidekick goes to Washington
by Matt Barr on Jun 13, 2024 12:24:44 PM
Sidekick Goes to Washington: How the Department of Commerce Can Make Their Data AI-Ready The Department of Commerce has issued a request for information: AI and Open Government Data Assets Request for Information, seeking expert input on making data AI-ready. At mySidewalk, we have ex …
Making Data Accessible for Everyone
by Matt Barr on Sep 26, 2019 10:00:00 PM
Taking On a Big Challenge for Data Visualization The power of the Web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect. – Tim Berners-Lee -inventor of the World Wide Web One of the most unique things about working at a data company that const …






