Texas’ relationship with AI is ‘getting serious’

If the Texas state government is in a relationship with artificial intelligence, things are starting to heat up, Amanda Crawford, the state’s chief information officer, said in a recent interview.

“We are still definitely in the getting to know you phase,” Crawford said in a video interview. “We’re getting more serious about it and we’re starting to see that potential and promise for a future together.”

She said her bureau, the Department of Information Resources, is developing learning material to help state employees of all levels of technical expertise better understand what AI technologies are and how they work.

DIR is also advancing AI work through the Texas Education and Innovation Center’s Innovation Lab, a physical space where 27 agencies have so far gathered to meet with vendors and see if various products would be helpful for their work.

“I liken it to sort of test driving a car, where you can kick the tires, take it for a drive and see if this is something that works well for you at your agency,” Crawford said.

She said 50 AI projects are underway, including lots of chatbots and some tools designed to improve the operations of agencies. Most, she said, are “foundational tools” designed to make everyday work life easier.