Gov. Josh Shapiro announced Wednesday in Pittsburgh that he had formed an AI Governing Board that will help guide Pennsylvania’s use of generative artificial intelligence. Shapiro also said the state is working with Carnegie Mellon University on ways the state can use AI.
Generative AI like ChatGPT is being hailed as a step forward for computers and computing power, capable of activities beyond human capability. But it’s also being seen as having the potential for doing destructive things to society and employment.
Shapiro signed an executive order during a stop at CMU that would form the AI Governing Board with executive members of state government and outside experts, at the same time the commonwealth begins piloting generative AI usage to improve services to Pennsylvanians. The Shapiro administration will work with CMU on ways to amplify services and workers while at the same time honoring and protecting the 80,000 or so state employees.
“AI will never replace the ingenuity, the creativity and the lived experience of our outstanding workforce in the commonwealth,” Shapiro said. But he also said that the state and society couldn’t bury its head in the sand when it comes to AI. He said Pennsylvania had to take a proactive, innovative and ethical approach to the development and deployment of AI.
“We don’t want AI to happen to us,” Shapiro said.
The deployment will include training for workers and also for creativity, and not meant to replace state workers.
"This is a tool for our workforce," Shapiro said.
The executive order signed Wednesday afternoon is designed “to ensure our commonwealth approaches generative AI responsibly and ethically so we can maintain the highest standards while the technology moves faster and improves the way we serve Pennsylvania.”
There weren’t a lot of details yet about what would come out of the partnership with CMU or the AI governing board, other than to find ways to improve the connections between government and citizens. Shapiro said the governing board, which would begin work next week, would work to find ways to leverage generative AI but at the same time ways to respect privacy, ensuring safety and security, promoting fairness, increasing accuracy and empowering employees. CMU’s Block Center is working on systems not only with the state but also with Allegheny County and elsewhere for improving services.
The committee will set guardrails on what technology will be deployed and how it will be used.
CMU President Farnam Jahanian said generative AI holds potential for state and local government to enhance efficiency of its services in an ethical way. Shapiro said that he believed Pennsylvania was now the furthest ahead when it comes to state government’s AI policy and efficiency. Jahanian said CMU has extensive experience in developing and using AI for good and was proud to be able “to lead at the intersection of technology and humanity.”
“This vision (of the Shapiro administration) recognizes the profound urgency that is defining this moment for Pennsylvania and for our nation,” Jahanian said. “The accelerating pace of innovation and technological advances is profoundly reshaping our society.”
