New Jersey to make its AI translation tools available to other states

New Jersey’s Department of Labor is taking the lead in using artificial intelligence to improve accessibility of unemployment services for non-English speakers, offering their innovative translation tools and training materials to government agencies nationwide.

The initiative’s impact: New Jersey’s AI-powered translation service has significantly increased Spanish-language access to unemployment benefits, with Spanish applications rising from 1-in-120 to 1-in-44.

• The system uses advanced language models to understand crucial distinctions between similar terms, such as “laid off” versus “fired”
• More than one-third of New Jersey residents speak Spanish at home, making language accessibility a priority
• The state collaborated with Google and U.S. Digital Response to develop these AI translation tools

Technical implementation: The state developed a naturally bilingual system using large language models and generative AI, moving beyond traditional automated translation services.

• The system employs “off-the-shelf generative AI models” to expand service access
• Training materials have been designed to help other government agencies implement similar systems
• The approach focuses on human-centered design principles, prioritizing how people actually use government websites

Resource optimization: The AI translation system helps address significant operational challenges in providing multilingual services.

• The tool reduces dependence on human translators, who are often overwhelmed with requests
• The system can potentially handle translation for all 128 languages spoken in New Jersey
• State officials indicate the solution is more cost-effective than traditional vendor contracts

Collaborative approach: New Jersey is actively sharing its AI translation resources with other states and government agencies.

• Beth Simone Noveck, New Jersey’s Chief AI Strategist, emphasizes the tool’s potential to make government services more efficient and accessible
• The state is making training materials freely available to other government agencies
• The U.S. Digital Response highlights the democratic nature of the initiative, involving users with firsthand experience navigating public benefits

Future implications: The success of New Jersey’s AI translation system could reshape how government agencies approach language accessibility and service delivery.

• Other states are already exploring AI solutions for unemployment services
• The open-source approach could reduce dependence on long-term vendor contracts
• The initiative demonstrates how AI can be leveraged to advance digital equity in public services

Looking ahead: While the initial results are promising, the true test will be whether other states can successfully implement these tools and achieve similar improvements in accessibility, potentially establishing a new standard for multilingual government services.