Teri Takai, chief programs officer for the Center for Digital Government, and Todd Gustafson, head of U.S. public sector for HP, dive into one of the most urgent and transformative questions facing state and local government leaders today: How to build the workforce of the future — and what role will AI play in that shift? From the rise of AI-enabled PCs to automating password resets and drafting better emails, Gustafson shares firsthand how AI is reshaping internal workflows and external constituent services. Takai and Gustafson also explore what it means for government agencies to embrace a culture of continuous learning, data stewardship and responsible AI adoption.
SHOW NOTES
Here are the top-five takeaways from this episode:
- AI Is Already Boosting Productivity
Public sector organizations are using AI tools like Microsoft Copilot to automate note taking, email drafting, meeting scheduling and other everyday tasks. These small efficiencies add up, saving time and enabling government employees to focus on higher-value work. - Government Workforces Must Embrace Continuous Learning
With AI tools evolving rapidly, learning how to use them effectively is not a one-and-done effort. Leaders and staff must commit to ongoing skill development, adapting to new capabilities and approaches as they emerge in real time. - AI Is a Strategic Advantage, Not a Threat
Rather than fearing replacement by technology, government workers should see AI as a way to enhance their performance and job satisfaction. By offloading repetitive tasks, AI can make public service work more fulfilling and engaging. - Data Privacy and Security Must Be Everyone’s Responsibility
AI introduces new questions about data usage, storage and protection — especially for personally identifiable information (PII). Security can no longer be just the CISO’s job; it must become a shared responsibility across the entire workforce. - IT Leaders Are at the Center of Organizational Change
CIOs and CTOs are critical change agents in government, helping to guide digital transformation through technology and workforce innovation. AI presents them with a unique opportunity to lead not only infrastructure modernization but cultural and operational shifts as well.
Our editors used ChatGPT 4.0 to summarize the episode in bullet form to help create the show notes. The main image for this story was created using DALL-E 3.
*Governing and Government Technology are divisions of e.Republic LLC.
