By the time you read this, online or in our print edition, Wiscasset's selectboard might have a policy on the sometimes helpful, in some respects scary, entity that has washed over the internet and elsewhere, artificial intelligence. Town Manager Dennis Simmons had language ready for the board to consider March 3. A policy could not come too soon.

AI is great at pooling information and doing certain other things more quickly than a human can; but any technology can have bugs, such as inaccuracy and, say, a lack of scruples. Is there such a thing as artificial scruples (AS)? If not, I'm sure there will be. But I doubt I will be convinced it can do better than half-mimic them.

A commercial a while back observed, the illness known as shingles doesn't care. I'm not sure AI does, either; or really does, or ever really, really will.

As proposed, the policy would apply to all "employees, elected officials, volunteers, boards, committees, contractors, and third parties with access to town systems or data. It applies to all Al systems used for municipal business, whether cloud-based, locally installed, or embedded within third-party software." No one could use an AI tool without a written OK from the town manager or a designee.

Hear, hear! And, just as important given the speed at which AI's use has grown, the policy would be reviewed at least annually for potential updating.

Hear, hear! For here in Wiscasset, and how about every town and city considering such a policy on an entity with such potential benefits and risks?

Week's positive parting thought: We hear you, spring, in the birds' tweets and our sloshy steps into puddles sometimes, instead of onto ice. And we believe in you! We know you are on the way.