Georgia’s new AI website to ‘mirror’ state’s latest efforts

The Georgia Office of Artificial Intelligence has a new website designed to serve as a central hub for information regarding the state’s AI efforts, for state agencies, private sector businesses and nonprofits in the state.

The website, which went live Dec. 6, provides an overview of Georgia’s core principles and technology guidance for ethical AI use, which emphasize fairness, accountability, transparency and innovation.

It also features a glossary with definitions to 25 key terms and AI and data concepts, which are meant to serve as the standard language to use when officials discuss AI topics, and a calendar for meetings and events hosted by the state’s AI Advisory Council, a 14-member body established earlier this year to provide expert guidance on AI initiatives.

Georgia Chief Information Officer Shawnzia Thomas and Nikhil Deshpande, the state’s chief digital and AI officer, sit on the AI Advisory Council. Deshpande told StateScoop that work on the website started concurrently with the AI council’s work to produce guidelines this year, which became content for the website.

“The last three or four months is when we intentionally started putting together all the content to work the website,” Deshpande said. “We just needed one place for agencies or legislators or anyone to go. There’s a lot of interest from local government, as well, so that’s when we decided to go out with that on one website.”

The glossary, Deshpande said, was born from conversations between state legislators this past year that included specific definitions for AI-related terms. He said that while terms may change as technology evolves, it was a goal of his office to provide those in the state with a “common ground” for future conversations.

“It’s very key that in the state — and in any state, it’s key — that you’re speaking the same language. So having those definitions there, we’re speaking the same language,” Thomas said.

The website also features information about the state’s “innovation lab” and about new emerging technology projects related to public safety, health, transportation and education.

By centralizing AI information, Thomas and Deshpande said, they hope the website provides state partners entities with the tools they need to make informed decisions, and drive innovation that can help communities across Georgia benefit from AI. Deshpande described the website as “a mirror” to what is going on with the state’s AI program, and that the website will be continually updated.

“So we plan on doing more things, and as we add more things, as we do more things, those will be reflected on the website, and the website also will be a good call for call to action for agencies who want to participate in some of those future events,” Deshpande said. “So we really are hoping for that website to be something that the agencies regularly check to make sure what is happening and how they can collaborate with us.”