A new executive order (EO) from Rhode Island’s governor significantly deepens the state’s efforts in AI, data-driven decision-making, and technology training.
Executive Order 24-06, signed by Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee on Thursday, establishes the Artificial Intelligence Task Force. AI and Data Center of Excellence under the leadership of the Department of Administration (DOA). and the Data Center of Excellence within the state’s Enterprise Technology and Strategic Services Division (ETSS).
The order establishes these new agencies to help the McKee administration understand how AI can help streamline operations and improve service delivery, and to support the expansion of the technology in the private sector. Established. EO helps ensure that these implementations are done responsibly.
“When it comes to technology, data security and personal privacy remain our top priorities,” Chief Digital Officer and Chief Information Officer Brian Tardif said in the announcement.
Former Congressman Jim Langevin, who has also been named director of the University of Rhode Island’s new Institute for Cybersecurity and Emerging Technologies, will chair the new task force. This task force will be responsible for assessing both the risks and opportunities associated with AI and advising national policymakers in this area. Experts from the public and private sectors serve as committee members.
Task forces to address AI issues have been established in other states, including Alabama, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Wisconsin, and such task forces also exist at the federal and local levels.
The AI and Data Center of Excellence is tasked with developing a national code of ethics for AI. In his announcement, Tardif said making this a top business priority will ensure a human-centric focus on AI deployments. The center will also be tasked with predicting future AI-related trends.
The Data Center of Excellence will support state leaders’ efforts to foster enhanced data management and collaborate on data analysis and data-informed decision-making. The EO creates the position of Chief Data Officer within ETSS. The individual hired for this role will be appointed by the State Administrator to oversee the Data Center of Excellence and will report to Tardiff. The CDO will be responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining a data center of excellence and will foster intergovernmental collaboration on data activities under the direction of the state’s data governance structure with a focus on developing strategies and recommendations for improvement. .
The EO also calls for the creation of a statewide data platform to facilitate access to data. It leverages best practices from existing data systems, including the Health and Human Services Administration’s data ecosystem and the Office of the Commissioner of Secondary Education’s (OPC) Rhode Island Longitudinal Data System.
“Improving data and data infrastructure will put governments in a better position to assess how AI can best benefit state employees and the public. Data Infrastructure Development and AI It is important to take a prudent and responsible approach to both,” said the DOA Director. Jonathan Woomer talked about the relationship between AI and data in his presentation.
The order, effective immediately, requires the state Departments of Labor, Training, Education, and OPC to work together to provide training and education on AI tools for state employees and students.
