Artificial Intelligence

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order seeking to limit states’ abilities to enact AI-related policy that could be deemed “burdensome.” Experts argue the action is illegal.

The state Department of Administration is considering adding agentic AI modules in the myAlaska app, which residents use for a variety of key services. A recent request for information sought industry input.

The young company’s backers and supporters include several gov tech veterans along with officials from Nevada. Madison AI offers a chatbot and other AI-backed services to cities and counties and other local agencies.

A presidential executive order on AI could challenge a number of laws already in play. One in California, state Senate Bill 53, set safety disclosure requirements for companies operating AI models.

“Experiential learning” can let people discover technologies firsthand, a panelist said at the inaugural CoMotion GLOBAL conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Residents must be kept in mind, said another.

Pamela McKnight will serve as the city’s inaugural chief AI officer. Officials first announced plans to hire a CAIO and build out an AI team earlier this year, powered by a $2 million budget expansion.

A private research university in Texas announced a partnership with Dell to accelerate the use of artificial intelligence on campus and implement an AI system that keeps critical data in-house.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is pouring an additional $40 million into the clean energy workforce with aims of upping the state’s nuclear and AI capabilities.

Providing shared computing power, AI tools and educational support, the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource pilot connects researchers, educators and industry partners pushing boundaries with AI.

Next year will bring a complex mix of evolution, correction and convergence when it comes to AI. It will become more powerful, more personal and more ubiquitous — and also more expensive, more autonomous and more disruptive.

The Kennewick police are getting several technology upgrades, including new taser weapons, virtual reality training, the AI-powered body cameras, enhanced records management and more.

To meet workforce demand, new programs at Point Park University in Pennsylvania this spring will include an AI in Education Endorsement and an AI Certificate, both fully online.

Many professors cite the rising impact of AI and the speech of some prominent politicians as reasons to inoculate students against propaganda and falsehoods being mass produced and spread on social media.

The nonprofit STEM Next Opportunity Fund is working with Qualcomm Incorporated to pilot after-school and summer programming in AI literacy at schools in Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

The Indiana Secretary of State’s Office has launched a modernized Notary Education Learning Management System, to improve training and compliance for all notaries. It could serve as a model for other updates.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has introduced two new pieces of legislation: one to protect consumers from the costs of AI data centers and one that would establish an Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights.

Beyond major tech purchases, novel pilot projects and new job titles, what school IT leaders really need to do with artificial intelligence is lead organizational change with input, transparency and strategic intention.

A new policy guide from the nonprofit Public Citizen is intended to support the public sector with concrete recommendations on transparent data center projects that are respectful to residents.