California launches AI assistant to help residents navigate state services

California is turning to artificial intelligence to help simplify how residents navigate state government with the launch of a new digital assistant designed to serve as a single point of entry for public services. 

Announced Wednesday by Gov. Gavin Newsom, AskCA is a prototype developed by the state’s Office of Data and Innovation to help Californians find resources based on life events, such as finding a job, starting a business, accessing family services and recovering from disasters. 

The tool uses Anthropic’s Claude large language model and will rely on state subject matter experts to help validate responses from verified sources, rather than simply generate conversational answers like many commercial AI chatbots. The Department of Technology will provide cybersecurity support. 

According to the announcement, the new tool stems from the state’s response to the devastating Los Angeles wildfires in 2025, which destroyed more than 16,000 homes, businesses and other buildings. The state also launched an AI-powered tool last year to expedite the process of approving building permits after the fires.

“When a Californian needs help, they shouldn’t have to become an expert in government to find it,” Newsom said in a statement. “We’re using the best technology California has to offer to make government more efficient, effective, and more engaged — meeting people where they are, making it easier to navigate services, and ultimately delivering stronger results worthy of their tax dollars.”

The new AI assistant builds on California’s broader effort to incorporate AI tools into government operations. In June, the state announced a discounted agreement with Anthropic that gives state and local agencies access to Claude for administrative work, information analysis and constituent services. The state has also developed Poppy, an AI assistant specifically for government employees. 

The Golden State is not the only state to experiment with AI-powered government services in recent years. Chatbots have become increasingly common on government websites, with states including Texas and Georgia using automated assistants to answer questions and help residents complete tasks. Nebraska has also expanded its use of AI tools after a DMV pilot generated more than 3,400 referrals to online services and reduced call volume by 20% in some areas. 

Local governments are also pushing the emerging technology further. Maricopa County, Arizona, and Washington, D.C., are connecting AI assistants with geographic information systems to answer location-specific questions.

California’s next test will be whether AskCA can move beyond retrieval toward actually connecting residents with government services. The state is seeking Californians to beta test the tool, while CalHR plans to deploy its technology for AI-powered job matching starting Sept. 30.