The North Carolina Department of State Treasurer, in a promising collaboration with OpenAI, has concluded a 12-week pilot program that may soon funnel millions in unclaimed property back to citizens. According to a press release from the N.C. Department of State Treasurer's website, the utilization of artificial intelligence, specifically ChatGPT, resulted in not only identifying a considerable amount of unclaimed assets but also enhanced the operational efficiencies across various sectors of the department.
State Treasurer Brad Briner highlighted the department's intention to modernize and maintain high-caliber services, “Our team set out to find out how we could modernize our department, while still providing top notch service to folks across the state,” he said. Through the integration of ChatGPT in the Unclaimed Property Division, the agency has effectively expedited the process of pinpointing and reaching out to businesses potentially sitting on unclaimed property, paving the way for these assets to be returned to their rightful owners, as per N.C. Department of State Treasurer.
Following the program's conclusion, the N.C. Department of State Treasurer is partnering with the North Carolina Central University's Institute for Artificial Intelligence for an independent evaluation. Together, they aim to develop a comprehensive report detailing the pilot program's strengths and areas for improvement, which will be made available in the weeks ahead.
Chris Lehane, OpenAI's Chief Global Affairs Officer, lauded the collaborative effort as a definitive step towards integrating AI in government operations, "This partnership is a powerful example of how AI can help government better serve the public," Lehane told the N.C. Department of State Treasurer. Accentuating that Treasurer Briner and his crew are charting a path that illustrates how tools like ChatGPT can enhance public service effectiveness.
The Department of State Treasurer's mission encompasses overseeing state pension and healthcare plans, ensuring sound financial management, and maintaining the state’s “AAA” bond rating among other financial responsibilities. OpenAI’s mission stays grounded in the advancement of AI for the collective benefit, striving to address complex issues in sectors like health, education, and economy through the power of AI technology, as noted on the organization's website and shared press statements.
