How Utah is using AI for government services
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Illustration: Megan Robinson/Axios
Utah and several other states are turning to artificial intelligence in the hopes of improving government efficiency and public services.
Why it matters: States have a unique flexibility to test, deploy and set their own rules for AI as the federal government trails behind on legislation and regulation.
- How states procure and use the technology can offer examples for others and inspire similar moves.
State of play: Utah has rolled out Google Gemini to most state employees, and its commerce department is using AI to process international professional licenses, such as nursing, for state credentials.
What they're saying: Utah chief information officer Alan Fuller said it was an "insurmountable problem" to process licenses in different languages before staffers could use AI to help them translate and summarize the troves of information.
Zoom in: Call center agents for Utah's tax commission are grappling with the demands of a growing population and the state is exploring how chatbots could help field people's questions.
- The state is also developing a one-stop-shop online portal with an AI chatbot that routes residents to easily take actions like renewing a license or accessing social services.
The big picture: A recent study by Brainly, an AI education technology company, ranked Utah the third-most prepared state to "win the AI race" — after Washington, D.C., and New Hampshire.
- Nearly 13% of businesses in the state use AI, according to the report. That's the second-highest rate in the nation.
Catch up quick: Gov. Spencer Cox signed a set of AI amendments last year, creating the Office of AI Policy, strengthening consumer protections and requiring licensed professionals to disclose the use of AI tools.
What we're watching: A two-day summit in Utah for government, business, academic and community leaders in December is set to explore AI use.