Maryland Launches Lab to Aid State Agencies in Upscaling AI Adoption

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore recently announced the launch of the state’s AI Innovation Lab, an initiative designed to help Maryland government agencies upscale AI adoption and experimentation.

Through the AI Innovation lab, Maryland’s state agencies “will have access to a controlled sandbox environment for secure testing and ready-to-use software packages that will help them rapidly build and prototype AI solutions,” according to a statement from Moore’s office.

The Innovation Lab team will consist of state employees with AI expertise, led by Pat McLoughlin, executive director of the Maryland Benefits Platform. The Innovation Lab’s team will provide hands-on training meant to support agencies, test vulnerabilities pre-deployment and transition the Lab’s AI pilots into ongoing AI products that agencies will grow, according to Moore’s office.

The AI Innovation Lab will also support some of the state’s strategic initiatives “to harness artificial intelligence to address child poverty and modernize Maryland’s government,” the statement read. Sample offerings include a tech stack to power chatbots and solutions architecture sessions to try new AI offerings.

“Maryland is leveraging AI to make our government faster, smarter, and more efficient—from tackling complex challenges like child poverty and housing access to saving taxpayers millions through smarter fleet management,” said Moore, in a statement.

“By launching the AI Innovation Lab, we are not just leading the nation in the responsible deployment of artificial intelligence, we are delivering revolutionary results directly to Marylanders.”