North Carolina joins growing number of states establishing AI frameworks

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein on Tuesday signed an executive order launching a statewide artificial intelligence framework. The order creates an AI leadership council, an AI accelerator at the Department of Information Technology, and oversight teams in each state agency.

The council, which includes government officials like state Chief Information Officer Teena Piccione, will act as an advisory board to the governor and state agencies on the use of AI in government, develop training programs and promoting AI literacy and fraud prevention for the public.

In a press release, Stein said the move is aimed at boosting economic growth and efficiency while ensuring responsible adoption. She pointed to major investments, like Amazon’s planned $10 billion AI innovation campus in Richmond County, as evidence of the state’s growing role in the tech economy.

“AI has the potential to transform how we work and live, carrying with it both extraordinary opportunities and real risks,” Stein said in the release. “Our state will be stronger if we are equipped to take on these challenges responsibly. I am looking forward to this council helping our state effectively deploy AI to enhance government operations, drive economic growth, and improves North Carolinians’ lives.”

With this move, North Carolina’s joins dozens of other states working to establish their own AI rules and strategies in recent years. Rhode Island, Virginia and Washington last year created task forces to explore ways AI can make state government more efficient.

The Colorado legislature, meanwhile, recently voted to delay implementing the state’s AI Act until the end of June next year, five months after the law was originally to go into effect.

In April, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a new initiative that integrates generative AI technologies across state government, including aiding the Department of Transportation’s efforts to reduce traffic congestion and helping the Department of Tax and Fee Administration streamline its customer service systems.

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves ordered agencies in January to appoint AI coordinators and develop policies stressing fairness, transparency and accountability.

Ohio has turned to AI for education, requiring all public schools to adopt AI policies by 2026, with model guidelines due at the end of this year.