The Council was established through a November 2023 executive order intended to create clear usage policies, provide transparency, protect sensitive information, uplift diversity and examine how AI can support state employees. The Council is chaired by Oregon CIO Terrence Woods. Its first meeting was held in March, at which time a 12-month timeline for the action plan’s creation was enacted.
The plan recommends executive actions for the state to develop frameworks for AI governance and security as well as to address privacy and workforce needs.
“After months of public meetings, subcommittee work, and stakeholder engagement, the council has delivered a comprehensive AI action plan, aligning with Oregon’s core values of diversity, equity, and inclusion,” said Woods in a statement.
The action plan lays out the state’s vision and guiding principles for AI. The guiding principles draw on several international benchmark efforts, including the White House AI Bill of Rights and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s AI Principles, as well as that of the European Union. The principles include accountability, equity and representation, human oversight in AI governance, privacy and confidentiality, workforce preparedness and understanding, and more.
“Oregon aims to foster a responsible AI ecosystem that enhances government efficiency, accountability, and public trust, while upholding the highest standards of privacy and ethical integrity,” reads the vision statement in the action plan.
The action plan categorizes its 74 recommendations under five strategic executive actions, which are as follows: establish cross-functional AI governance framework; acknowledge and address privacy concerns; enhance security framework; develop reference architecture; and address workforce needs.
Recommendations in the action plan include executing an updated executive order that authorizes an AI governance body and appointing an AI leadership role within six months and developing metrics to be measured and publicly reported within 18 months.
The report’s concluding summary notes that the state’s AI and privacy leadership “should plan to provide a progress report to support the 2027-29 budget development process.”
