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Phillip Durst

Head of AI Science at Learn Collaborate

I’m happy to say I’ve had an eclectic and wonderful professional journey spanning many projects, teams, and research areas. I started as a Research Physicist at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) back in 2009, working on autonomous and driverless vehicles. I then served as an Engineering Manager from 2018-2022 before joining Assured Information Security for a couple of years researching AI/ML for the military. After some more AI/ML military research with Bennett Aerospace from 2024-2025, I'm happy to have landed at Learn Collaborate as the Head of AI Science for what is very soon to be the best place to learn the soft skills that cannot be gained through current online learning platforms. Along the way, I taught video game design and computer vision at the Rochester Institute of Technology, freelanced as a copywriter and academic coach off-and-on since 2018, and even taught ESL to students in China during COVID. Now, I'm excited to see what adventure comes my way next.

Articles

Cover image for Beyond the Map: AI’s Role in Reimagining Property Lines and Tax Revenue
Artificial IntelligenceEconomic Development
Beyond the Map: AI’s Role in Reimagining Property Lines and Tax Revenue
<p class="mb-4">Cities are getting smarter, and so is the way they draw their lines- literally. Artificial intelligence is helping local governments d...
April 9, 2026Read article
Cover image for Connecting Government and Citizens: How Social Media Builds Smarter Communities
Communication and SpeechMedia and Messaging
Connecting Government and Citizens: How Social Media Builds Smarter Communities
<p class="mb-4">Social media isn’t just reshaping how we connect- it’s redefining how we’re governed. From viral city announcements to live-streamed c...
April 6, 2026Read article
Cover image for The Future of Land Use: How Artificial Intelligence Shapes Smarter Cities
Artificial Intelligence
The Future of Land Use: How Artificial Intelligence Shapes Smarter Cities
<p class="mb-4">Artificial Intelligence is quietly becoming one of the most powerful tools in shaping the way we use and protect land. From mapping ur...
April 1, 2026Read article
Cover image for Educators, Don’t Panic: How AI Can Make Your Job Easier (and Your Impact Bigger)
Education
Educators, Don’t Panic: How AI Can Make Your Job Easier (and Your Impact Bigger)
<p class="mb-4">Artificial intelligence has already slipped into classrooms- quietly grading, tracking, and recommending- long before anyone agreed on...
March 27, 2026Read article
Cover image for Groundbreaking AI: Rethinking Land Use from the Sky Down
Artificial Intelligence
Groundbreaking AI: Rethinking Land Use from the Sky Down
<p class="mb-4">What if the land beneath our feet could talk- and AI could translate? Artificial Intelligence is revolutionizing the way we map, monit...
March 26, 2026Read article
Cover image for Justice by Algorithm? AI’s Promise and Peril in Local Government
Artificial Intelligence
Justice by Algorithm? AI’s Promise and Peril in Local Government
<p class="mb-4">What happens when algorithms start helping to decide who sits on your jury—and how your city runs? AI can help build fairer juries, ki...
March 24, 2026Read article
Cover image for Bureaucracy, Disrupted: How AI Slashes Red Tape and Personalizes Learning
Artificial Intelligence
Bureaucracy, Disrupted: How AI Slashes Red Tape and Personalizes Learning
<p class="mb-4">City halls and classrooms are quietly getting an AI upgrade, turning red tape into real-time insights and one-size-fits-all lessons in...
March 19, 2026Read article
Cover image for The Algorithmic Assessor: Can AI Make Property Taxes Fairer?
Artificial IntelligenceManagement and Finance
The Algorithmic Assessor: Can AI Make Property Taxes Fairer?
<p class="mb-4">Artificial intelligence is quietly reinventing one of government’s oldest tasks: figuring out what your property is worth- and what yo...
March 17, 2026Read article
Cover image for Personalized Pathways: AI, Predictive Analytics, and the Future of Student Success
EducationArtificial Intelligence
Personalized Pathways: AI, Predictive Analytics, and the Future of Student Success
<p class="mb-4">When the last bell rings, AI is just getting started- quietly turning after‑school time into a testbed for smarter, more personalized ...
March 15, 2026Read article
Cover image for Can Algorithms Pick a Fairer Jury? Inside the New AI Courtroom
Artificial Intelligence
Can Algorithms Pick a Fairer Jury? Inside the New AI Courtroom
<p class="mb-4">Artificial intelligence is slipping into the courtroom- not to argue cases, but to quietly rewire how we pick the people who decide th...
March 13, 2026Read article
Cover image for Where AI Meets the Map: The New Frontier of Geospatial Governance
Artificial Intelligence
Where AI Meets the Map: The New Frontier of Geospatial Governance
<p class="mb-4">When a city government uses AI to pinpoint which streets will flood before a storm hits, or which buildings need inspection most urgen...
March 12, 2026Read article
Cover image for AI in Class: Tailored Lessons, Instant Feedback, and New Ethical Dilemmas
Education
AI in Class: Tailored Lessons, Instant Feedback, and New Ethical Dilemmas
<p class="mb-4">Imagine a classroom where every student has an endlessly patient, hyper-attentive tutor that learns how they think and adapts every le...
March 11, 2026Read article
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