Rapidfire Chats with State CIOs at NASCIO’s 2026 annual conference

At 2026 NASCIO conference, State CIOs express enthusiasm and apprehension about AI

The National Association of State Chief Information Officers held its annual conference this week in San Diego, bringing together dozens of state technology leaders to discuss the most pressing IT challenges agencies across the country are facing, including modernization, cybersecurity and privacy, data infrastructure and of course artificial intelligence.
Some CIOs were enthusiastic about the opportunities AI tools present for digital services and improved efficiency, others were more concerned about the privacy and data risks involved in using the emerging technology.

Top stories this week:

NASCIO released the results of its 2026 State CIO Survey on Monday, highlighting the growing pressures facing state technology leaders, with 68% anticipating increased turbulence and disruption to the role over the next five years. A central theme of the survey is the changing nature of the CIO role, as a majority of state technology leaders said they are navigating expanding responsibilities, rapid technological change and a modernization landscape that is increasingly difficult to keep pace with.

States are turning to lidar, machine learning, satellite imagery and other digital tools to get a better handle on landslide risks as a new round of federal grants helps geological surveys build the data infrastructure needed to map hazards and better prepare for disasters. The U.S. Geological Survey awarded $1 million to 16 states, local and tribal governments — including Pennsylvania, Nevada, North Dakota and Alaska — this month for projects focused on landslide inventories, hazard mapping and risk reduction.

Wyoming has opened a $7.5 million helibase at Casper-Natrona County International Airport this week, designed to speed up wildfire response while giving state firefighters better access to technology and communication infrastructure. The new facility, which won’t be fully operational until the state’s next fire season in June, brings together state forestry staff, wildland firefighters and federal partners at a centralized aviation hub.

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