Gov. Tate Reeves issued Executive Order No. 1584 on Wednesday, marking the state’s first formal directive on AI.
The order mandates the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services (ITS) review all AI technologies now used in the state and create a comprehensive inventory. This involves assessing existing processes, procurement practices, and current AI applications. The order also directs ITS to collaborate with public and private stakeholders to craft policy recommendations that ensure AI is utilized ethically, securely and effectively within Mississippi. Specifically, ITS will be responsible for creating a “standardized form” to facilitate the assessment of all AI inventory currently being used or developed.
The order was essentially created to encourage collaboration across agencies and ensure that AI adoption aligns with the values and security of residents.
“AI isn’t going anywhere anytime soon,” Reeves said in a news release. “There are a lot of benefits and risks associated with this technology, and that’s why Mississippi needs to continue preparing for its eventual widespread adoption.”
Per the order, “policy recommendations for the acquisition and use of AI shall be rooted in principles of fairness, innovation, privacy, security and safety, transparency, accountability, accessibility, validity, and reliability with safeguards to protect against potential harms and risks.”
Dr. Craig P. Orgeron, Mississippi state CIO and ITS executive director, explained how the executive order will contribute to agencies embracing AI more effectively.
“What I think in terms of the executive order itself is, it gets the state moving,” Orgeron said. “This initial focus is on an inventory of guidelines and a framework. But I think the overall idea is to use this order to begin bringing the agencies together to talk about what it is that we need, and the upcoming innovation hub for AI, which is going to leverage these pathways to cloud that we have. From there, we can create a landing zone for AWS, Microsoft or Google, getting that AI tech stack available for agencies to innovate.”
As the state builds its AI framework and engages stakeholders, Orgeron said he believes this new executive order, together with upcoming legislation and internal and external partnerships, will make a real difference in the Mississippi tech landscape.
“Mississippi is committed to harnessing the potential of AI to transform public services responsibly,” Orgeron said in the news release. “By fostering collaboration among state agencies, industry experts, and stakeholders, we are ensuring that AI is implemented ethically, securely, and in a way that builds trust while delivering meaningful improvements for all Mississippians.”
