How state and local governments went all-in on AI in 2024

AI’s growing impact on government in 2024: The year 2024 marked a significant shift in how state and local governments embraced and implemented artificial intelligence, moving beyond the chatbot hype of 2023 to more practical and transformative applications.

• Innovative AI applications emerged in critical areas such as emergency response, with advanced cameras using AI for early wildfire detection.
• Citizen services saw improvements, with AI helping to reduce response times and eliminate backlogs in permit processing.

Governance and accountability measures: As AI adoption increased, so did efforts to ensure responsible use and oversight within government agencies.

• Numerous task forces and councils were established to create guidelines and policies for AI use in state and local governments.
• The GovAI Coalition, founded in San Jose in late 2023, grew to include over 350 member agencies, providing resources like AI fact sheets and use case templates.
• Many agencies implemented rules mandating AI inventories to ensure transparency and oversight of AI tools.
• A trend emerged of creating dedicated AI leadership positions within government organizations.

Data quality and governance: The critical importance of high-quality data for successful AI implementation became increasingly apparent in 2024.

• Experts warned that without thorough data audits, AI initiatives risked becoming expensive failures.
• Poor data quality was identified as a potential source of biased, inaccurate, or harmful outcomes that could erode public trust and waste resources.

Cybersecurity concerns: The rise of AI also brought new challenges in the realm of cybersecurity.

• More sophisticated cyber attacks emerged, including realistic deepfakes, voice cloning, and hyper-personalized phishing attempts powered by AI.
• Organizations like CivAI began educating policymakers about potential AI-powered cyber threats to help agencies improve their defenses.

Addressing the digital divide: Concerns arose about AI potentially exacerbating existing inequalities and creating new barriers to access.

• Public libraries took a leading role in offering workshops and resources to help citizens understand and use AI technologies.
• AI showed promise in creating more accessible and inclusive digital experiences for people with disabilities.
• Government agencies recognized the importance of ensuring AI benefits are shared equitably across all segments of society.

Key takeaways: 2024 demonstrated both the transformative potential of AI in government and the need for careful implementation and oversight.

• The year saw a shift from hype to practical applications of AI in critical government functions.
• Efforts to ensure responsible AI use through governance structures, data quality initiatives, and cybersecurity measures became increasingly important.
• Addressing potential inequalities and ensuring equitable access to AI benefits emerged as crucial considerations for government agencies.