Mississippi looks to modernize its tech with AI and cloud services

Mississippi recently launched an AI Innovation Hub and announced plans for a Cloud Center of Excellence as part of a comprehensive technology modernization initiative across state agencies.

Strategic priorities for 2025: The Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services (ITS) has identified five key technology priorities for the year, with procurement modernization leading the agenda.

• A new Procurement Advisory Council with 30 state agency representatives will work to streamline procurement processes
• The state is creating an AI Innovation Hub through partnerships with Amazon Web Services and the Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network
• Plans are underway to establish a Cloud Center of Excellence to manage relationships with major cloud providers
• Digital services expansion aims to build upon the existing 425 services available through Mississippi.gov
• A Digital Innovation Fund will be created using fees collected from procurement instruments

AI initiatives and implementation: The state’s AI Innovation Hub represents a major step forward in Mississippi’s artificial intelligence strategy, backed by executive action and practical applications.

• Governor Tate Reeves’ Executive Order No. 1584 provided the foundation for the hub’s creation
• The Legislative Budget Office has already implemented AI for bill summarization using AWS Bedrock
• The hub will serve as a collaborative space for state agencies, private industry, and educational institutions

Cloud transformation strategy: Mississippi is taking decisive steps to modernize its cloud infrastructure while managing existing systems.

• The state is developing relationships with AWS, Microsoft, and Google Cloud
• Current infrastructure includes two operational mainframe systems
• The Cloud Center of Excellence will focus on addressing skill gaps and defining strategic approaches
• Officials expect to have basic framework elements in place by spring 2025

Cybersecurity developments: A new comprehensive approach to security has been implemented to protect state digital assets.

• The recently launched Cyber Security Review Board coordinates security efforts across state agencies, local governments, and educational institutions
• The initiative represents Mississippi’s first “whole-of-state” approach to cybersecurity
• The board operates under a unified framework to address cyber threats

Looking ahead – Mississippi’s digital transformation: While the state’s technology modernization plans are ambitious, key questions remain about implementation timelines and the scope of AI integration across different agencies.

• Success will largely depend on effective coordination between multiple stakeholders
• The Digital Innovation Fund’s impact may be limited initially due to its reliance on procurement fees rather than new appropriations
• The state’s ability to balance legacy systems with new cloud solutions will be crucial for long-term success