New study outlines responsible use of AI in Alabama – 35 state agencies report some form of utilization

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey released the final report of the state’s Task Force on Generative Artificial Intelligence, a document that outlines how executive-branch agencies can responsibly and effectively implement AI technologies in state government.

The report is the result of nearly a year of work by the GenAI Task Force, which was established in February 2024. Led by Secretary of Information Technology Daniel Urquhart, the task force included members of the governor’s cabinet, the Alabama Legislature and representatives from the state’s higher education institutions.

“Here in Alabama, we’re booming with growth. From big businesses moving to Alabama, to rebuilding infrastructure and cutting-edge research, Alabama is staying on top of the game and will continue to be an industry leader, especially in the ethical use of artificial intelligence,” said Governor Ivey in a statement. “I am proud of the hard work that our state leaders put into exploring the constructive possibilities for GenAI in the executive branch.”

The 41-page report details both the promise and the risks of generative AI, which differs from traditional AI by producing original content—such as text, images or music—rather than simply analyzing data.

Tools like ChatGPT and image generators such as DALL·E have popularized generative AI in recent years, sparking rapid adoption across industries from education and healthcare to marketing and software development. This surge in use has also prompted growing concern around ethical questions, data privacy, misinformation and workforce disruption.

As a result, governments at every level have begun studying how to regulate and responsibly integrate GenAI into public services.

The Alabama task force examined existing uses of GenAI in state agencies, developed best practices for ethical implementation and issued 10 recommendations for deploying the technology across government operations.

Among the key proposals are the adoption of the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s AI Risk Management Framework and the creation of a Technology Quality Assurance Board to oversee GenAI development and usage. The task force also emphasized the importance of workforce training, data governance and clear accountability measures.

A GenAI inventory conducted as part of the task force’s work found that out of 139 responding state agencies, 104 reported no use of GenAI products or services.

The remaining 35 agencies collectively reported using 108 distinct tools from 72 different vendors. These tools were used for a variety of functions, including text generation, language translation, software code development and complex problem-solving.

However, the report emphasized that these figures likely underrepresent the actual scope of GenAI usage across state government. Many technology vendors have begun embedding generative AI capabilities into their existing software platforms—often without clearly labeling those features. As a result, state employees may be interacting with GenAI tools unknowingly, raising concerns around transparency, data handling and ethical oversight.

“Although the results of the GenAI inventory report are enlightening, it is almost certainly not a complete picture of how this revolutionary technology is being used among Alabama’s executive- branch agencies,” the report stated. “The reason for this is because vendors and providers have begun to integrate GenAI into their existing products and services in ways that a typical user might not immediately notice. Training and education will continue to be vitally important as GenAI becomes more
commonplace and widely used.”

To address this, the task force recommended improved data literacy among employees and a centralized effort to track and audit the presence of GenAI features in procured software. They also urged state agencies to include AI disclosures and risk assessments in future vendor contracts.

The task force focused its work on four main areas: using GenAI responsibly and ethically, managing and protecting data, training state employees, and setting clear rules for how GenAI should be used.

The final report includes recommendations like testing new AI tools in secure “sandbox” environments before rolling them out widely, creating clear guidelines for buying GenAI products, and organizing state data by sensitivity to better protect privacy and security.

In addition to policy recommendations, the report calls for increased public transparency and citizen engagement as GenAI systems become more common in state services. It also encourages investment in Alabama-based GenAI talent to foster innovation and create a sustainable, locally-driven AI workforce.

The full report is available at aitaskforce.alabama.gov.

Grace Heim is a state and political reporter for Yellowhammer News. You can follow her on X @graceeheim or email her at [email protected].