The state's training leverages “Responsible AI for Public Professionals,” a course of study from InnovateUS, a nonprofit, multistate initiative via the team at the Burnes Center for Social Change at Northeastern University, and The Governance Lab. New Jersey started offering this curriculum to state employees in July 2024. It has since been made available by other governments, including Indianapolis, Ind., and Washington, D.C.; the latter made it mandatory for employees. The Delaware Department of Human Resources (DHR) worked with InnovateUS to develop the training.
It became available Thursday on the Delaware Learning Center, an online learning platform for state employees, according to an email from DHR Communications Director Ashley Blok; it will be assigned to executive branch employees on Friday, she said.
DHR coordinated work to develop the training together with the departments of Technology and Information, and Education, and the Government Efficiency and Accountability Review Board.
“Collaboration is the cornerstone of progress as we embrace the possibilities of artificial intelligence,” Acting Chief Information Officer Jordan Schulties, in place since January, said in a statement.
Officials said the training supports the mission of the Delaware AI Commission, which was created in July 2024 to guide AI adoption by making recommendations for executive and legislative actions related to AI, developing agency guidelines, and encouraging responsible AI use.
The state technology workforce has a need to develop AI skills; AI literacy is increasingly considered a fundamental digital skill. The federal government has offered guidance on this front, to support training endeavors.
Numerous state governments are partnering with InnovateUS to develop their employees’ AI skills, including California, Georgia, Maryland and New York. Cities including San Francisco and San Jose, Calif., are launching similar initiatives.
