Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announces new task force to study use of AI

LITTLE ROCH (KATV) — To ensure Arkansas state government stays up to date with the use of AI as its technology landscape expands, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders launched a task force to study and evaluate its potential effect on state government operations.

“AI is already transforming the face of business in America, and Arkansas government cannot be caught off guard,” Sanders said. “As we work to find efficiencies within state government, AI can play a role, with appropriate guardrails, in improving our level of service to Arkansans while maintaining “At the same time, we must prevent the misuse of AI to protect Arkansans. This task force will build the knowledge base we need to safely achieve these goals.”

The AI ​​and Analytics Center of Excellence (AI CoE) is a subcommittee of the Data and Transparency Panel (DTP), which will be launched through a DTP subcommittee at the Q2 meeting of the organization on June 27, 2024.

The AI ​​CoE will be chaired by Robert McGough, Arkansas’ chief data officer, according to a statement from the governor’s office.

The working group will be responsible for studying, evaluating and sharing recommendations for policies and guidelines, as well as developing practices to ensure that safety, effectiveness and ethics are strongly considered. matters as long as the use of AI is used safely in state government.

In addition, the AI ​​Center of Excellence will review and evaluate a series of pilot projects aimed at encouraging learning about AI and the potential risks it presents.

The committee will also develop practices to implement emerging technology safely.

A multitude of considerations will make up the comprehensive AI CoE guidelines. They include accountability (trust and accuracy), appropriate datasets, autonomy, bias, ethical use, intellectual property, privacy and security, and transparency.

Both projects have been classified as leading AI use cases, formed to meet the AI ​​Center of Excellence criteria which are: data availability, demonstrable value, alignment with state priorities, stakeholder buy-in and secure funding.

Project 1 is Unemployment Insurance Fraud (Division of Workforce Services) and Project 2 is Recidivism Reduction (Arkansas Department of Corrections).

The AI ​​CoE will operate for one year from its establishment date, unless extended or terminated by the Governor.

The committee will meet monthly and also provide a report to Governor Sanders by December 15, 2024.

In the report, progress made on its pilot use cases will be included, as well as proof-of-concept projects.

Efficiency, cost savings, safety and economic development will be factors that weigh heavily throughout the report.