A New Roadmap for AI in State Government: Balancing Innovation, Efficiency, and Risk:

In a forthcoming report, AI in State Government: Balancing Innovation, Efficiency, and Risk, authors Katherine Barrett and Richard Greene provide a timely and comprehensive examination of how AI is being integrated into state operations. The report highlights both the promise and the challenges of adopting these technologies, emphasizing the need to preserve transparency, accountability, and human judgment in the process. 

The authors explore state pilots of AI tools to streamline operations, improve service delivery, and enable new policy innovations. From public health to transportation, and education to environmental management, GenAI is emerging as a collaborative partner rather than a replacement for state employees. By mapping current and emerging use cases, Barrett and Greene demonstrate how AI can complement human expertise, automate repetitive tasks, and free up staff to focus on more complex, value-added responsibilities. 

In addition to multiple state case studies, the report also provides recommendations for how state leaders can move forward in adapting AI to improve service delivery. These include building cross-agency learning networks to share insights and best practices, investing in workforce training and upskilling to prepare employees for work alongside AI systems, and creating governance frameworks that balance innovation with safeguards for responsible AI. Such strategies can ensure that technological advancements strengthen the public trust. 

This report extends the IBM Center’s commitment to exploring the intersection of technology, workforce transformation, and public administration. The report builds on prior Center publications including GenAI and the Future of Government Work, which explores the transformative potential of GenAI in reshaping the workforce; Navigating Generative AI in Government, which outlines strategic pathways for integrating GenAI into public service; and Digital Modernization for Government: An Implementation Framework, which helps to create an agile roadmap for adopting AI and other emerging technologies.

The report provides state leaders with information about how generative AI offers tremendous potential to improve efficiency and innovation, alongside insights on how to deploy AI thoughtfully -- with sound governance and a commitment to keeping people at the heart of decision-making around AI. As states’ use of AI grows, this report adds to the growing body of work on this topic that will be critical in guiding policy, shaping workforce strategies, and ensuring that AI serves the public good.