AI for Governance
Government Must Be Willing to Reimagine, San Jose Mayor Says
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan cautiously addressed plans by the incoming Trump administration to cut federal spending and create a Department of Government Efficiency led by tech leaders Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. While defending public workers, Mahan suggested being open to re-engineering government processes with new tools and a customer focus. The mayor, a former tech CEO, noted differences between government and Silicon Valley startups, arguing the temptation in government is to keep adding rules. He expressed support for reimagining processes, but stated it "shouldn't come from a place of, government is a problem." His response reflected the challenge of balancing innovation with respecting public servants.
Read article AI for Governance
In New Jersey, using AI starts with empowering employees
New Jersey is training 10,000 state workers to responsibly use AI for better public services. An employee survey guided the state's free online training program and the recommendations of the State’s AI Task Force. The training covers safe AI use, privacy, bias avoidance, and spotting "AI snake oil." AI is already speeding up unemployment benefits and improving call center resolution rates in the state. Engaging workers and promoting continuous learning is key to realizing AI's potential and increasing public trust. The article highlights New Jersey's bottom-up approach to AI governance through employee upskilling.
Read article AI for Governance
Institutions around the state unite to create New Mexico AI Consortium
The New Mexico Artificial Intelligence Consortium, a collaboration of research institutions and national laboratories, aims to advance AI development and understanding in New Mexico. Founding members include Los Alamos National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, and several universities, such as UNM, NMSU, and NM Tech. The partnership seeks to position New Mexico as a leader in trustworthy AI solutions for national security, energy, and other fields. The consortium will leverage the labs' computational resources and expertise in AI security, machine learning, and high-performance computing. It also focuses on education and workforce development, offering academic programs and training opportunities to equip students at all levels with AI skills. Additionally, the group plans to support AI startups and foster industry collaboration to create an AI ecosystem that drives economic growth and job creation in the state.
Read article AI for Governance
AI is motivating data governance work, says Texas CIO
The arrival of AI is making it easier to talk about certain aspects of IT modernization in state government, Texas Chief Information Officer Amanda Crawford tells StateScoop in a recent video interview. Crawford says that agency leaders are seeing “tremendous potential” in AI, and so are now motivated to properly manage state data. “One of my colleagues likes to say that we had legacy modernization that was brought to you by the pandemic and that now we have data governance, data management and all of those policies brought to you by AI,” Crawford says. One project to improve data management, she says, is an online training course, designed to boost data literacy.
Read article AI for Governance
The AI We Deserve
Despite generative AI's recent rise, Evgeny Morozov argues we must ask if its development truly serves the public good. He sees AI as narrowly focused on problem-solving, mirroring the instrumental rationality of the military-industrial "Efficiency Lobby" funding it since the 1950s. Morozov draws on Hans Otto Storm's concept of "eolithism"—a fluid craftsmanship exemplified by a Stone Age wanderer repurposing found objects—as key to human intelligence but neglected by AI. While today's AI is more open-ended, Morozov contends it still serves a neoliberal ethos casting users as individualistic consumers. He points to 1970s Latin American efforts to harness computing for participatory planning as roads not taken. Morozov calls for redirecting AI toward public ends, stressing this requires political struggle against the "Efficiency Lobby," not just technical tweaks. Realizing democratic AI means cultivating an ecological rationality respecting citizens' creativity and dignity.
Read article AI for Governance
Poland Launches $240 Million AI Development Plan To Boost Economy And Defense
Poland announced a $240 million investment in artificial intelligence to boost economic competitiveness and national security amidst rising hybrid threats from Russia. The plan includes establishing an AI Fund, an advisory council, and building a European-first AI Factory at the AGH University of Cracow. Key initiatives include creating a Polish large language model (PLLuM) and supporting startups and small businesses. Amid increased cyberattacks, Poland’s defense sector prioritizes AI integration, with a new Artificial Intelligence Implementation Center under the Cyber Defense Forces Command. Lessons from Ukraine's use of AI in warfare are being incorporated into Poland’s strategies. The investment is part of a broader National Digitization Strategy targeting $24 billion in digital projects by 2030. AI adoption in Poland has surged, with 30% of businesses and 71% of defense firms already using the technology, potentially adding $139 billion to the economy by 2030.
Read article AI for Governance
U.S. Central Command Employs Large Language Model-based Artificial Intelligence
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) is using AI tools, including the CENTGPT platform, to improve efficiency in operations. Initially tested during the 2023 Hamas-Israel conflict, it now aids in code generation, document processing, and office tasks. The platform helps developers detect errors and streamlines document disclosure. CENTGPT’s secure network access improves information retrieval and summarization. While promising, CENTCOM emphasizes human oversight of AI outputs. The platform, based on the Air Force’s NIPRGPT, ensures secure handling of sensitive data. This initiative aims to enhance operations and guide future AI policy.
Read article AI for Governance
Does the UK’s liver transplant matching algorithm systematically exclude younger patients?
A UK liver transplant matching algorithm appears to discriminate against younger patients under 45, who are unable to get high enough priority scores even when very ill. The algorithm predicts 5-year survival rather than lifetime benefit, underestimating the value of transplants for younger recipients. Patient groups warned of this flaw before launch in 2018, but it persists after a 2022 update. The 5-year window was chosen based on available data, not clinical reasons, so the algorithm assesses need more than benefit. The case reveals issues with transparency, difficulty incorporating deservingness and donor preferences, and shifts to utilitarian ethics without adequate public debate. Collecting better data, adjusting the algorithm, and broader discussions on AI for medical decisions are needed.
Read article AI for Governance
Online Book Talk—The Tech Coup: How to Save Democracy from Silicon Valley
Former European Parliament MP Marietje Schaake’s book argues that tech companies have seized power from governments under the guise of innovation, posing major threats to democracy through issues like facial recognition surveillance, cryptocurrency instability, and spyware proliferation. The book examines how this occurred and outlines solutions to empower elected officials and citizens to resist corporate influence and protect democracy in the digital age. The event features Schaake in discussion with cybersecurity expert Bruce Schneier. It is moderated by Danielle Allen, Director of Harvard's Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation.
Read article 
InnovateUS 
