Executive Order Mandates AI Training for Utah State Government Employees

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox recently signed an executive order that requires Utah state government employees to undergo AI literacy training.

As reported by Utah’s KUTV CBS 2, the Oct. 6 order was designed to establish a “structured, pro-human” framework for AI integration across Utah state government.

The mandate arrives roughly 10 months after Cox introduced Utah’s Pro-Human AI Initiative, which directed the state’s government agencies “to maintain a balanced approach to AI,” KUTV’s Derick Fox wrote.

As part of the initiative, state agencies were urged to use AI to “enhance public services and improve efficiency while keeping safeguards for human agency and data privacy,” Fox reported.

In addition to obliging state employees to take part in AI training, the new order also directs state agencies to use AI to streamline internal processes, improve citizen-facing application and implement guardrails to mitigate security risks.

The Utah Department of Government Operations will be charged with overseeing these process improvements and with establishing safeguards. Starting on July 1, 2027, the department is expected to submit an annual progress report to Cox.

“The choice between innovation and safety in government is a false one. AI represents a generational opportunity to better serve Utahns, but technology must always remain accountable to the people,” said Cox, in a statement.

“By ensuring our approach is strictly human-guided and human-enhancing, Utah is demonstrating how state government can lead the nation in deploying cutting-edge technology while preserving individual liberty, privacy and human dignity.”