(The Center Square) – Experimentation with artificial intelligence for improved efficiency and public service has begun in a North Carolina executive office.
First-term Republican state Treasurer Brad Briner said Thursday the state is launching a 12-week pilot program with OpenAI that will look at ways to “safely and responsibly” use ChatGPT in government services.
Brad Briner, state treasurer of North Carolina
“Innovation, particularly around data and technology, will allow our department to deliver better results for North Carolina,” Briner said. “I am grateful to our friends at OpenAI for partnering with us on this new endeavor, and I am excited to explore the possibilities ahead.”
Chan Park, who heads U.S. and Canada policy and partnerships for OpenAI, said using artificial intelligence is the best way for government to understand its potential.
“Artificial intelligence will transform how we live, work, interact, and most importantly, help us solve problems to improve our lives,” Park said in a statement.
The treasurer’s office will share what it learns with other agencies following the pilot program, Briner said.
Possible applications for ChatGPT include identifying businesses which have unclaimed property and analyzing local government public financial data, Briner said.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, artificial intelligence “has the potential to spur innovation and transform industry and government.”
Federal, state and local governments have begun to incorporate tools in delivering services, according to the organization.
“Federal and state leaders have jumped into action to understand current uses of AI and to measure its impacts,” the national conference said. “This activity has shown that leaders are carefully considering the risks, while exploring how new technology can transform government operations.”
On the federal level, the Office of Management and Budget encourages the use of artificial intelligence to “streamline operations, reduce costs and improve overall efficiency,” according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
For example, the Department of Veterans Affairs analyzes medical records to predict the rates of suicide. The Securities and Exchange Commission is using artificial intelligence to detect fraud, according to the legislative arm.
States across the country have also passed legislation establishing guidelines and privacy protections for the use of artificial intelligence.
“Delivering government programs and services with AI requires heightened sensitivity,” the National Conference of State Legislatures said. “As AI governance structures are built and allowable AI uses are determined, federal and state policymakers will continue to focus on government data and technology infrastructure, security, data privacy, bias and discrimination, and other potential misuse or unintended consequences by AI.”
