On September 20, 2023, Pennsylvania’s governor, Josh Shapiro, signed an executive order – the first of its kind in the nation – concerning the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by state employees. The goal of the order is to establish a clear and responsible framework with which Commonwealth agencies can leverage AI in the workplace.
The executive order contains a set of core values, at the heart of which is ethical use. Here are some of the highlighted priorities and goals:
- To ensure that the use of generative AI results in verifiable and accurate information.
- To acknowledge the risks associated with generative AI and adapt as needed.
- To provide resources for state employees to continue to grow their skills.
- To commit to using AI in a way that complements rather than replaces human creativity, experiences, and moral judgment.
Governor Shapiro’s executive order also describes the structure of a newly formed “Generative AI Governing Board,” consisting of 12 members with diverse roles. This board will convene monthly and is tasked with providing recommendations to state agencies on the ethical and productive use of AI in the workplace, ensuring state agencies use generative AI efficiently, and addressing issues concerning bias and security as they are identified. The Board will seek to “outline problems and opportunities” rather than advocate for “prescriptive solutions.”
In other words, the Shapiro Administration wants to ensure that the adoption of AI in state workplaces is not a solution in search of a problem.
An Authority Weighs in on the Governor’s Executive Order
Charles Palmer, who currently serves as Associate Professor and Program Lead of Interactive Media, and Executive Director of the Center for Advanced Entertainment & Learning Technologies at Harrisburg University, recently had a chance to explore this development in an interview with WGAL.
“The technology itself will take past information, learn what it is, and then generate new content. The state is looking at using these particular tools to ease the process of governance. There are a number of tasks that might be very repetitive that can be improved upon by having your computer assistant look over your shoulder.”
Some of these “processes of governance” include making changes to outdated language in state policies, composing job descriptions, and engaging in recruitment and hiring. Pennsylvania is the first state in the country to create this type of pilot program, and it’s sure to inspire others as governments at every level seek to use their time, money, and human resources more efficiently.
Pennsylvania: First State to Create an AI Pilot Program
Mr. Palmer continued:
“Being first has huge advantages. Every state agency – everyone – is looking at, ‘How do we use this ethically, and how do we make sure that we’re making the best choices using these technologies.’ By partnering with a giant in the industry, it puts PA right at the forefront of setting policy for the whole country.”
OpenAI, which created ChatGPT, is indeed a “giant in the industry.” ChatGPT is probably the name most people think of first when they think about AI tools that are here, today, and already making an impact.
But how does ChatGPT Enterprise differ from the “off the shelf” version that many members of the public may already have experimented with? The differences seem to dovetail perfectly with the Shapiro Administration’s dedication to using AI ethically, in a way that respects the privacy of both the state agencies using the tool, and the public which they serve.
“[ChatGPT Enterprise] is an application that only runs on your computer and no one else’s. Rather than a system that uses the commodity internet that learns from all these sources from across the world, this is a very walled garden where the agencies will be able to control everything that comes in and out of that closed environment.”
Mr. Palmer also identified some of the benefits and risks, and drew attention to the deliberate, measured approach proposed by Governor Shapiro:
“Like everything else, we try it in small batches first … by giving access to a small group of employees, giving them some guidance and training on how to use it, then broadening that. As you start using this tool, you start finding new uses for it. Some of the drawbacks might be just being first and finding out the right way to get it correct. Having it be a closed system really helps, but we’re still not entirely sure about all the ways we will potentially be using this.”
Will AI Take State Jobs Away From People?
The question that’s probably top-of-mind for many people in the public and private sector alike is, “Will this take my job?” Palmer continued:
“I actually see more jobs being created from this. If we just look at how we’re using this at Harrisburg University and other institutions, we see this as freeing up individuals’ time so they can be more creative in the tasks they accomplish … we find new opportunities to shelve these processes, and that opens up time for other processes to be created. In the state’s situation, maybe someone’s job function is replaced with AI, but that trained individual, that creative human, is still needed in that particular profession.”
Will other states follow the example set by this still-nascent pilot program?
“Oh, definitely,” said Palmer. “There’s probably a very long list of folks who want to work with OpenAI, and I’m looking forward to working with the team as well.”
Be sure to watch the entire interview with Professor Palmer for his full thoughts on what this means for the Commonwealth and beyond.
