Why Should Delaware Care?
With the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence nationwide, states are increasingly adopting the technology to better serve their constituents through public service, data analysis, administrative efficiency, and more. But with these innovations comes the need to harness the advantages of the technology while mitigating its potentially harmful uses.
The Delaware Artificial Intelligence (AI) Commission held its first meeting last week, marking its first steps toward developing responsible use of AI in the state.
Over 40 people attended the July 24 meeting, which took place at the state’s Department of Technology and Information in Dover. The commission, which is currently composed of 23 state officials, lawmakers and experts, aims to provide state agencies with guidance on the safe and effective utilization of AI through guidelines, policy recommendations, and risk assessments.
Earlier this year, Rep. Krista Griffith (D-Fairfax) sponsored House Bill 333, which created the commission, in response to on-going concerns revolving around the rapid evolution of AI.
After working on legislation around data privacy, and passing a bill to enhance data privacy for constituents, Griffith concluded that one of the main problems was that consumers did not understand how or where their data was being collected. Given that AI systems rely heavily on personal data to function, the need to further understand the technology became evident.
“So the next step in that process was really getting a handle on artificial intelligence and generative AI,” Griffith said.
The inaugural session opened with brief comments from Gregory Lane, chief information officer of Delaware’s Department of Technology and Information, and Griffith, who will also serve as commission’s chair.
“It became very important to us to make sure that we were having Delaware become a model for the country in terms of how we approach artificial intelligence; That we do so in a way that embraces the benefits and harnesses the benefits of what AI can bring, but also is cognizant and sets policy on those issues that raise deep concern,” Griffith told attendees during the meeting Wednesday.
The AI Commission will be responsible for making recommendations to the General Assembly and DTI on the use of AI for all state agencies. In addition, it will be tasked with identifying high-risk areas for the implementation of generative AI.
After electing Griffith as chair, the commission appointed Sunita Chandrasekaran, associate professor of computer and information sciences at the University of Delaware, as vice chair. Richard Jester, AI program manager at JPMorgan Chase, was also elected as secretary.
The commission then put forward meeting agenda items that will be set throughout the year, including guest speakers, training and education on AI, discussing guardrails to enforce responsible utilization and creating safe spaces to test and develop AI use cases.
At the end of each year, the commission must submit a report detailing its findings for the previous year, its proposals, and its goals for the upcoming year.
Although there is potential harm that can come from AI — such as disinformation and deep fakes — this technology will allow state agencies to develop innovative systems to enhance local services, which will better meet the needs of residents.
Mark Luszcz, assistant chief traffic engineer of Delaware’s Department of Transportation, revealed that DelDOT is working on an AI-powered software to create predictive analytics to make recommendations on signal timings for smoother traffic flow within the state.
Delaware is one of 12 states to develop legislation to regulate this type of technology. Although the AI commission is in its beginning stages, the commission is hopeful that it will provide effective guidance in the state.
“I think this commission is going to establish guardrails, as opposed to restrictions, too, as we begin to invest in AI and develop AI use cases and steer us in a direction that will be most beneficial for the residents of Delaware,” Lane said.
The commission will hold quarterly meetings to address current issues and assess its progress. Their next meeting, which will take place in October, will focus on creating subcommittees to tackle specific areas of AI and they will meet more frequently.
Get Involved
The Delaware AI Commission invites the public to attend their regular meetings to listen in on discussions and voice their concerns. Keep an eye on DTI’s public agendas to participate while the commission develops a website.
The post New Delaware AI Commission aims to harness emerging tech appeared first on Spotlight Delaware.