McKee signs executive order establishing Artificial Intelligence Task Force and Data Center of Excellence

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — At an event at Rhode Island College Gov. Dan McKee signed an executive order establishing an Artificial Intelligence Task Force and a Center of Excellence for AI and Data within state government.

McKee said the goal of these two bodies is to “explore how AI can create efficiencies within state government operations, enhance services provided to the public, and prepare the state to responsibly support the advancement of this technology in Rhode Island’s private sector.”

“Rather than simply react to the changes in the information technology landscape, I want Rhode Island to be a leader as this field evolves,” McKee said. “This executive order is the first step in being proactive and preparing state government for this new technology.”

The task force will assess the risks and opportunities presented by the advancement of AI and advise state policymakers, while the Center of Excellence will be tasked with creating a state code of ethics for AI and predicting future trends in the field.

McKee added that the executive order includes the creation of a statewide, federated data platform “that will make it easier to access and use data and leverage best practices from existing data systems.”