In a recent development, North Carolina's Department of Information Technology (NCDIT) has appointed I-Sah Hsieh as the state's inaugural AI governance and policy executive. Hsieh, an expert with a substantial 25-year experience in the field, will focus on steering North Carolina toward an efficient, effective, and secure embrace of artificial intelligence, NCDIT announced.
Teena Piccione, NCDIT Secretary and State Chief Information Officer underscored the significance of Hsieh's hiring, noting, "I-Sah's appointment marks a significant step forward in North Carolina's commitment to harnessing the power of AI for the benefit and, protection of our residents, businesses, and visitors." In her comments, Piccione spoke to Hsieh's impending role in ensuring ethical and safe deployment of AI technology across the state—an effort that will call for collaboration with legislative bodies, private sectors, and government entities.
With Hsieh's expertise backed by an extensive career at SAS and engagements with policymakers and nonprofits, he brings to NCDIT an enlightened perspective on AI governance and ethics, coupled with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Cornell University. Importantly, his new role entails guiding North Carolina to align with the NC Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence Framework, established by NCDIT in the preceding year.
The aforementioned framework aims to maintain consistency in innovation across state agencies, while tethering it to the principles that fight to protect privacy and limit data protection risks, said NCDIT in its press release. Dovetailing with the framework, NCDIT has been proactive in providing state employees with resources, training, and guidance on the use of generative AI—a measure further enforced by, the development of comprehensive employee training programs.
North Carolina seems to be pacing towards a future where AI is not just an abstract concept or a buzzword, but a well-regulated tool at the service of public interests. As the state looks to Hsieh to navigate this intricate digital transformation, ethics, efficiency, and user privacy remain at the forefront of their AI journey.
