Under Governor Shapiro’s leadership, Pennsylvania is pioneering the responsible use of generative AI technology in state government through its first-in-the-nation phased pilot of ChatGPT Enterprise with OpenAI
The Shapiro Administration committed to empowering Commonwealth workers and furthering education and training in the generative AI field
Harrisburg, PA – Secretary of Administration Neil Weaver announced today that the Shapiro Administration has entered into an agreement with InnovateUS, a leading provider of no-cost training for public sector employees on the responsible use of generative artificial intelligence, to train Commonwealth employees on artificial intelligence and responsible use.
The introduction of this training represents a promise delivered by Governor Shapiro, who directed the Office of Administration to provide training for every employee and in-depth certification opportunities for those interested when he signed Executive Order 2023-19 alongside national leaders in artificial intelligence at Carnegie Mellon University. This training is another tool for Commonwealth employees, including employees who are engaged in the Commonwealth’s generative AI pilot with OpenAI. Employees who participated in the first phase of the pilot reported an average time savings of 105 minutes during the last day they used generative AI.
“Generative AI is a powerful tool that can enhance the productivity of our workforce and the services that they deliver for Pennsylvanians,” said Secretary of Administration Neil Weaver. “This agreement gives us the capacity to provide high-quality training at-scale to equip employees with the relevant knowledge to use generative AI in their daily work.”
“As generative AI systems become more prevalent and are integrated into commonly used technology tools, these trainings will serve as a foundation for employees as the Commonwealth continues to provide resources to navigate this new technology responsibly.”
The InnovateUS training courses are designed specifically for public sector employees. The training being deployed includes self-paced learning on topics such as responsible and efficient use of generative AI, how to write prompts for AI tools, and mitigating generative AI risk. The courses use practical examples and exercises to help employees understand where, when, and how generative AI may be useful in their daily work or to help address a specific challenge. The courses will be available to Commonwealth employees through the Office of Administration’s learning management system.
In addition to training provided by InnovateUS, the Office of Administration has also updated the annual security awareness and acceptable use training for all Commonwealth employees to include generative AI, ensuring a basic level of AI literacy and understanding.
Making Pennsylvania a Leader on Generative AI
Pennsylvania became a leading state in the exploration of generative AI in September 2023, when Governor Shapiro signed an executive order that established core values to be followed in the design, development, procurement and deployment of generative AI by Commonwealth agencies and established a Generative AI Governing Board to guide Commonwealth policy, use, and deployment.
The Administration has also partnered with leading academic and research institutions in Pennsylvania – the Carnegie Mellon University Block Center for Technology and Society and Pennsylvania State University (PSU) Center for Applications of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to Industry (AIMI) – to leverage their faculty expertise and receive advisory support for the Generative AI Governance Board, as well as foster additional research support and collaboration on generative AI usage.
Four months later, in January 2024, the Shapiro Administration announced a first-of-its-kind pilot of ChatGPT Enterprise with Commonwealth employees to understand where and how generative AI tools can be safely and securely leveraged in their daily operations. The pilot has collected valuable employee feedback from biweekly feedback entries, user interviews, and live feedback sessions.
During the first phase of the pilot, which included approximately 50 human resources and information technology employees in the Office of Administration, participants self-reported saving an average of 105 minutes per day using generative AI. Employees in the pilot received the greatest benefits from incorporating generative AI into their existing work in a way that leverages their subject matter expertise, such as brainstorming, code creation, and initial drafting of content. Subsequent phases of the pilot have included up to 125 participants from the Department of General Services, Department of Health, Pennsylvania Insurance Department, and Department of Labor & Industry. The pilot program will continue through 2024, and a report will be available at the beginning of 2025.
About InnovateUS
InnovateUS delivers free online learning for public service professionals by public service professionals on data, digital, innovation, and AI skills with an emphasis on evidence-based, participatory, and collaborative approaches. Governed by a coalition of public sector learning and innovation leaders in California, Colorado, Maine, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, InnovateUS is presented by a team at the Burnes Center for Social Change at Northeastern University.
