Last week, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued executive orders related to the use of generative AI. This follows a lot of debate about the best path forward for federal AI regulation, as well as several recently proposed pieces of legislation related to a national AI commission and how AI systems should be tested.
The Oklahoma order issued this week establishes the Governor’s Task Force on Emerging Technologies, which will be responsible for studying, evaluating and developing policy and other administrative recommendations related to deploying AI and generative AI. The order calls for the task force to report their findings to the governor by Dec. 31, 2023.
“The private sector is already finding ways to use it to increase efficiency,” Stitt said in the announcement. “Potential exists for the government to use AI to root out inefficiencies and duplicate regulations, and it is an essential piece of developing a workforce that can compete on a global level.”
The order directs the task force to focus on several specific areas of inquiry. The first is developing a set of principles and values to guide AI use within state government. The second is developing and implementing a governance framework. The third is determining how to train and educate current and future workers in the use of AI. The fourth and fifth are improving government services and efficiencies, respectively.
The task force will be composed of 11 members, representing different state departments for a collaborative effort. The governor will also appoint three at-large members with expertise in related matters.
The state CIO, Joe McIntosh, will serve as the chair of the task force. McIntosh holds the authority to create committees to facilitate task force work. He will also be responsible for deeming how often the task force meets to complete its work.
The Office of Management and Enterprise Services will provide staff, technical and administrative support for the task force.
Directors of each state agency will be required to designate one person on their team with becoming an expert on AI and generative AI, names of which should be submitted on or before Nov. 1, 2023.
