County Executive Angela D. Alsobrooks has issued an executive order (EO) outlining how county agencies and “funded operations” should work with AI, emphasizing its “responsible and ethical use.”
In a statement, Alsobrooks said the EO should help the county strike a balance between leveraging AI’s full potential and ensuring its secure and equitable deployment.
"By establishing comprehensive frameworks and standards, we aim to maximize the benefits of AI while mitigating potential risks and safeguarding the interests of our residents,” she said.
The EO specifies the county’s Office of Information Technology (OIT) will work alongside its Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to establish a framework and standards for the “responsible development and use” of AI “across IT platforms, software, data and infrastructure.” The framework must align with current and future IT policy, and the county IT Policy Board will get final approval.
The OIT will also be responsible for the creation of an AI task force, composed of agency members appointed by county administration. The task force will develop “strategies, acceptable use, use cases, prioritization and governance models” that include “digital access equity” in enterprisewide decision-making. OIT will partner with the Division of Contract Administration and Procurement and the Office of Law to review county contracts and legislation “related to AI contracts and services.”
The EO, which took effect upon its release April 19, orders CIO Wanda Gibson to develop and incorporate “policies, procedures and standards” for AI’s safe, responsible use, to also include privacy considerations around any future AI tech the county may integrate in its operations. Per the EO, designers and developers of automated systems must prioritize “continuous efforts” to safeguard residents and communities against possible algorithmic discrimination — ensuring systems are designed and used to promote fairness and equity.
In a news release Thursday, the county highlighted privacy considerations as a key provision of the EO — indicating its chief information security officer, guided by Gibson, will ensure AI is used safely within existing county cybersecurity protocols. These protocols, the release said, will “address privacy concerns” and encompass integrating future AI advancements into operations.
At a GOVChats event late last month, Nishant Shah, Maryland’s senior adviser for responsible AI, spoke about the state’s multifaceted approach to the technology, diving deeper into AI proofs of concept and pilots stemming from recent state legislation. According to Shah, the goal of Gov. Moore’s AI order back in January was not just to mandate a set of principles for state agencies.
“The statewide AI policy also prompted a bunch of organizational work to ensure that the state is set up for success, including kicking off several pilots focused on governance,” Shah said.
