Oregon's leadership is stepping into the future with eyes wide open. Governor Tina Kotek announced the final recommendations of the State Government Artificial Intelligence (AI) Advisory Council today. This blueprint for AI governance is a roadmap for blending new technology with the state's touchstones of responsibility, ethics, and security. "We cannot ignore the rapid growth of AI in our lives. It is incumbent on government to ensure new technology is used responsibly, ethically, and securely,” Governor Kotek stated, as per the Governor's Office.
Endorsed by the Council after scrupulous discussion and public input, this action plan is a set of guidelines and a declaration of Oregon's commitment to its values. According to the Governor's Office, State Chief Information Officer Terrence Woods, who chaired the AI Advisory Council, described the plan as reflective of Oregon's "core values of diversity, equity, and inclusion." The plan orbits around executive actions that aim to craft governance frameworks, construct reference architecture, and address privacy with workforce concerns in tow. Given the complexity of AI, these steps seek to equip Oregon's state workforce to meet the demands of a tech-infused future while protecting Oregonians' privacy rights.
Last year, Executive Orders 23-26 brought the AI Advisory Council into being. Armed with the feedback from over nine committee meetings and 18 subcommittee meetings, the Council's recommendations target five strategic areas. They include robust governance structures and enhanced privacy and security measures to the tune of investing in workforce readiness. Each action point is pinned with tasks, roles, estimated timelines, and resource needs, and it is down-to-earth and transparent in how these initiatives will unfold.
