Arizona

The state first published its policy and procedure for generative artificial intelligence in March. Since then, officials made several updates to address the changing needs this type of technology creates.

With a total of 85, the Phoenix area has the second-biggest concentration of data centers in the entire country, second only to northern Virginia, according to mapping by Iron Mountain Data Centers.

At this stage of the hype cycle, artificial intelligence is demonstrating real value to state IT organizations. Arizona CIO J.R. Sloan is optimistic that solutions to emerging concerns around escalating energy use are on the way.

A systemwide freeze lasted about half a day but, fortunately, first responders had prepped for such emergencies. Firefighters switched to “manual mode,” using different ways to take calls and do dispatch.

State and municipal agencies and one of the nation’s most populous counties are integrating AI and GIS into their permitting systems, adding automation and enhancing transparency to improve service and accountability.

Starting in January, the university will provide free digital security services such as vulnerability assessments, security audits and compliance checks to Southern Arizona businesses and nonprofits.

A public-private partnership involving two state agencies and a broadband technology provider will lay more than 400 miles of fiber-optic conduit on three Arizona interstates. It will link connected vehicles as well as homes and businesses.

Executive Director, Arizona Technology in Education Association

The city will explore using GPS technology from LYT to give green lights to emergency vehicles. The initiative, at a dozen intersections, will preserve its existing, optical-based system and compare their performance.

Through a new partnership with OpenAI and its ChatGPT Enterprise platform, Arizona State University intends to crowdsource new ideas and develop new tools to improve instruction, research and internal operations.

As Government Technology reflected on another year in the books, we asked state CIOs: What stood out for you in 2023?

As part of a developing innovation district intended to train future generations for technology jobs, ASU is investing heavily in educational and research facilities that will be open to tech industry partners.

Plus, the Broadband Infrastructure Playbook 3.0 arrives, the NTCA launches a new ad campaign promoting a sustainable Universal Service Fund, and more.

Arizona Chief Information Security Officer Ryan Murray sees two significant opportunities for artificial intelligence in cybersecurity.

Remote hearings, adopted as a pandemic necessity, could become common going forward in some states. Minnesota and Arizona have created guides indicating which hearings are suited for remote and which should be in person.

Arizona launched statewide sexual assault evidence kit tracking software in 2019. But Phoenix, the largest city in the state, has opted out of using it. The agency now faces a new sexual assault evidence backlog.

Government agencies are working to conform to a changing social media landscape these days, with Twitter’s rebranding to X — among other things — presenting challenges.

Following the success of biology courses aided by technology from Dreamscape Immersive, Arizona State University is hoping to make more use of virtual reality for other course subjects moving forward.