Pennsylvania Pioneers Secure AI Program for Government Workforce
Pennsylvania is making history as it becomes the first state in the nation to pilot an artificial intelligence (AI) program for its government workforce. The Commonwealth’s Office of Administration (OA) has partnered with OpenAI to launch a first-of-its-kind pilot program of ChatGPT Enterprise. This initiative aims to provide enhanced cybersecurity measures and enable Commonwealth employees to understand the safe and secure use of generative AI tools in their daily operations.
OpenAI’s ChatGPT Enterprise pilot program will commence in January 2024 and will initially be limited to OA employees. They will be able to use the AI tool for various tasks such as creating and editing content, making policy language more accessible, drafting job descriptions for recruitment and hiring, resolving inconsistencies within employee policies, assisting with code generation, and much more.
Expressing his enthusiasm for this groundbreaking initiative, Governor Josh Shapiro reiterated Pennsylvania’s commitment to innovation and stated, I believe Pennsylvania can be a national leader in the safe and responsible use of generative AI in our government operations. He further highlighted the potential of this technology to serve Pennsylvanians and empower the Commonwealth’s workforce.
The enterprise version of ChatGPT, introduced by OpenAI in August last year, distinguishes itself with its additional security features. Importantly, no data input by the Commonwealth will be used to train ChatGPT or any future OpenAI products, ensuring the privacy and confidentiality of sensitive information.
This pilot marks the Commonwealth’s first-ever utilization of generative AI tools within its state government workforce. The insights gained from this program will guide the integration of this technology on a wider scale, enhancing productivity and empowering employees within state government operations. Additionally, this agreement between OpenAI and the Commonwealth represents OpenAI’s first partnership with a state entity.
Following the announcement, Governor Shapiro is scheduled to meet with senior executives from OpenAI, emphasizing his commitment to the responsible use of generative AI and its potential to enhance job opportunities for Commonwealth employees.
While the primary goal of the pilot is to improve customer experience and outcomes for Pennsylvania’s residents, it is worth noting that there will be no direct interaction between Pennsylvanians and ChatGPT when accessing Commonwealth services.
This pioneering AI program has the potential to revolutionize government operations, fostering a more efficient and effective workforce. Pennsylvania’s commitment to innovation and its willingness to explore cutting-edge technology position it as a trailblazer in the responsible and secure use of AI in the public sector.
