Oklahoma Government Task Force Makes Recommendations for Responsible AI Use

In recent months, a handful of U.S. governors have laid out plans for the safe, responsible integration of artificial intelligence (AI) within their respective states’ government agencies.

Since last fall, for example, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee have all issued executive orders designed to ensure that AI is used responsibly and ethically in their state operations.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt hasn’t issued that type of directive, but he recently shared final recommendations from an AI-focused task force charged with helping to establish Oklahoma as “the top state for responsible and proactive AI implementation,” according to a statement from Gov. Stitt’s office.

Saying that Oklahoma “truly could be the AI capital of the nation,” Gov. Stitt noted that AI also “has the potential to help us steward taxpayer dollars in a more responsible way by cutting redundant positions and replacing some positions with AI technology.”

Federal, state and local government employees make up 21% of Oklahoma’s workforce, said Stitt, adding that “the ideal percentage would be closer to 13%. Artificial intelligence creates possibilities for more efficient employment and government services.”

Oklahoma’s AI task force organized its recommendations into two primary categories: strategies to support businesses and strategies to support state agencies. The collective’s business-oriented recommendations included ensuring ethical AI implementation by emphasizing transparency, accountability and data protection, as well as supporting AI innovation by encouraging research and development, and fostering new public-private relationships.

The task force ultimately issued five recommendations to support AI implementation within state agencies:

Create AI leadership positions within the state, such as establishing a chief artificial intelligence officer
Establish an AI oversight committee that incorporates all three branches of government
Establish an AI technology economic development task force to leverage Oklahoma’s AI infrastructure
Establish an AI digital workforce task force to encourage the existing workforce to incorporate more digital employees
Establish an AI technology task force to recruit more technologically skilled individuals to Oklahoma

Along with identifying areas of strength for the state of Oklahoma—its focus on workforce development, for example—the task force’s recommendations also emphasized the importance of ethical guidelines surrounding AI adoption going forward, such as guaranteeing human oversight and relying on proper data storage practices.

Echoing Gov. Stitt’s belief that Oklahoma has the opportunity to be a national leader in AI implementation, John Suter, the state’s chief operating officer, praised the task force’s work. Suter also expressed optimism about Oklahoma’s ongoing efforts to ensure ethical AI use throughout the state.

“The governor’s task force made great strides forward during 2023,” Suter said, in a statement, “and we look forward to progressing the framework in 2024 as we evaluate and implement AI investments in intelligent and safe ways.”