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This Week in Government Technology – January 26th – February 2nd, 2025

As artificial intelligence continues to shape the public sector, government agencies are exploring new adoption, regulation, and governance strategies at all levels. This week, several significant developments have emerged in AI policy and deployment, ranging from municipal partnerships to federal strategy shifts.

Federal AI Policy Shifts

OpenAI Introduces ChatGPT Gov

In an effort to streamline federal workloads, OpenAI launched ChatGPT Gov, a specialized chatbot designed to assist federal agencies. The tool is expected to support data analysis, automation, and other administrative functions.

Changes in National AI Policy

Following President Biden’s AI executive order rescission, President Trump issued a new AI executive order focusing on American leadership in AI development. The order directs federal agencies to develop a comprehensive national AI strategy prioritizing innovation and competitiveness.

Additionally, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has been tasked with revising two Biden-era AI memos to align them with the administration’s desire to remove “ideological bias or engineered social agendas.”

National AI Advisory Committee’s Expanded Role

The National AI Advisory Committee, established in 2020, announced plans to develop ten AI policy recommendations for the administration and Congress. These proposals may include governance frameworks for AI use in government and regulations addressing AI’s impact on public- and private-sector workforces.

State CIOs Advocate for AI Modernization

The National Association for State CIOs (NASCIO) provided the Trump administration with its top priorities for state government technology. The recommendations remain largely consistent with previous years, emphasizing the need to modernize government IT infrastructure and explore AI’s role in improving public services.

Federal AI Governance: A Fragmented Approach

A Stanford study released this week criticized the current state of AI governance in the federal government, calling it “fragmented” and “inconsistent.” The report advocates for a unified, government-wide AI governance framework that sets standardized policies for AI use across agencies.

State AI Developments

Understanding AI Deployment in Local Government

The Urban Institute released a new research report detailing how local governments are integrating AI and the obstacles they face. The study highlights three primary use cases:

  • AI-powered digital assistants for government employees
  • AI chatbots for online customer service
  • AI-driven accessibility improvements, such as simplifying complex document guides

This research underscores the varied ways municipalities leverage AI to improve service delivery and operational efficiency.

State Governments and AI Governance

A new Pew Research Center article examined how state governments structure AI governance through executive orders and inter-state collaborations. These initiatives aim to establish ethical guidelines and best practices for AI deployment, reflecting a growing recognition of the need for oversight in AI adoption at the state level.

New York City’s AI Initiative

New York City announced a partnership with OpenAI to enhance municipal services and stimulate economic growth. The city also unveiled a broader AI strategy, including workforce development programs to prepare government employees and private-sector workers for an AI-driven economy.

Minnesota Tackles Medicaid Fraud with AI

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced a new initiative to explore AI-based solutions for detecting and reducing Medicaid fraud. This effort reflects a growing trend among state governments to harness AI to improve efficiency and prevent fraud in public assistance programs.